A Field Trip to Micropolis

On Thursday we took a group of children to the Micropolis exhibit in Guatemala City. The program is put on mostly by Guatemalan private businesses. The program focuses on helping kids to see what they might be interested in as the get older. A career fare for young children. Needless to say they had a wonderful time. You can read about the Micropolis exhibit at www.micropolisguate.com.
















































































































And no field trip would be complete without lunch at Pollo Campero (yummm.....)

The Magic of Music

Last week we were blessed to have adoptive parents from the UK to "work" with our kids on music. Everything was an instrument including our empty water containers. We have several older kids that really want to learn to play with guitar and the flute. Thank you Ganesh and Linda for you generosity thoughtfulness. The kids are all waiting for you to come back!

Yikees! An October Move Date

Semillas de Amor has an estimated move date. We hope to be moving by the first part of October. Construction is moving quickly, the windows have been ordered, the doors are going in and the tile is being laid. Because of all the rain, and our building is concrete block and cement, we will need to wait until after the rainy season for things to dry out before we can paint. It is all a bit overwhelming and very exciting.



The back of the children's home looking from the children's playground.



The front of the children's home, missing the two cupulas and fountain.



Children's future playground






Inner courtyard



Doors ready to be hung.






Construction team looking for the best place to lay our underground electric.

A Very Special Art Exhibition

On Friday we had a very special art exhibition with our artists at Semillas de Amor and their art teacher, Miguel Angel. They used watercolor, pastels and crayons. After the showing we enjoyed lots of goodies.


Carmen's watercolor of Obelix, the horse near the volcanoes.


Deysi's red roses and tree.


Maria Jose's butterfly.


Daisy's butterfly in pastels.


Miguel's watercolor of the the Park.


The art showing.





Sonia's painting of Volcan Fuego.





Gaby's watercolor, "Connection to the Earth".








Our Artists!









Santos and his painting of an Eagle.





Sonia


Marta Maria and her painting of "Friends".


Roberto and his painting of volcanoes.


Ceci, one of our teachers, and her painting, "Freedom".


Daisy


Maria Jose


Deysi


Carmen


Brayan and his jaguar and volcano painting.


Gaby


Enjoying the paintings.











Miguel Angel and Santos.




















An art critic?





Our ever patient and talented art teacher, Miguel Angel.

"Recycling as Art" Exposition

Our bilingual class designed and built art projects from recycled materials over the last month and had an art exposition open to everyone at the children's home.


Brayan presents his projects.


All the kids eagerly wait for the art presentations.


Daisy and Majo present their projects.




Gaby describes her art to the kids.




Gaby's dragon.




Majo has invented a robotic nanny!




Brayan's microwave














Our mascot Bodhi wears a bit of recycled art.

Book Lovers

Semillas de Amor recently received a generous donation of 600 books for our library. As you can see we have some very happy kids as they look over their new books. A huge thank you to the family that made this donation happen for our kids.

Children's Village Construction Update

Construction continues to move along very well in Parramos. Many of the rooms are finished and are waiting to be painted and the flooring installed. We are hoping for a move date of the first part of October.


Interior courtyard


Building the walkway to the entrance to the children's home.


Finished children's bedroom. Just waiting for paint and flooring.


Children's classroom.










Administrative offices and classrooms.


Our new well pumps water into our 10,000 gallon cistern.

Making Quilts

The older children at Semillas de Amor were very fortunate to have a volunteer come from the States and teach them to make quilts. Patty brought all of the fabric and makings for quilts and the children each were able to make their own beautiful quilt. Thank you Patty for your time, patience and generosity.


Our volunteer, Mrs. Patty, teaches Santos to use the sewing machine.








Choosing fabric for quilts.


Marta displays her colorful quilt.

Brayan proudly displays his quilt.

Our ever patient volunteer, Mrs. Patty, taught all the children to use the sewing machine--WHEW!!!--what a job.