Kids' Klub with team from New Jersey

Our sixth and last team left this morning, headed back to their home in New Jersey. The team consisted of 8 young people, the youth leader and his wife, and one older man, Richard - who related to the children as if he himself were a young person! It was obvious he loved them and was terrific with them. We enjoyed this team and were blessed with their presence with us.

Each afternoon half the team helped with the kids' club, held in Manuel and Maru's garage - tight quaters, but it was a wonderful success. Someone said that the total number of kids who came were 92 - not all the same day, thankfully! We had between 40-60 most days. I participated only in that I took Aracely and her daughter Karen to club, as well as one of the teachers, Rosy. I also helped a bit translating for the team, but basically just enjoyed watching our Mexican youth participate in teaching. They did a great job! I was proud of them!

Games were a challenge with so many kids in so small a space, but the kids didn't notice - they were just having a blast! Here, a "quiet" game going on!

The kids were so proud of their crafts. At first, it was hard for them to be creative - Mexican children are taught to do it "EXACTLY" as the teacher did his/hers, so were concerned when theirs didn't look EXACTLY the same. But after a bit of encouragement, they realized they could do it ANY way they wished, and that was super!

Our host, Manuel, has four children of his own, two of them teens. He loved the craft time, and got into it much more than the children did! I should have gotten a picture of him drawing, cutting, tearing, helping the little ones!

Janett "read" a couple stories and the kids loved them - so did I! She's an extremely quiet girl, but when she gets in front of the children, she totally comes alive!
It's wonderful to watch!

You can't end club without a party! A cake was brought it and everyone enjoyed a piece - or two! We also gave each child a stuffed animal and you'd think they'd died and gone to heaven! Wow!

After all the children had left, Manuel and Maru served pozole to all the teachers and helpers - and included me! What a great time we enjoyed together! Then, after eating, I gave a stuffed animal to each one of them! Wow! Another time of excitement and rejoicing! Such a small thing - a stuffed animal - but what joy it brought to our wonderful helpers!

And not just the helpers - everyone, including the men! And the teen boys were even more excited than the girls - it was amazing to watch them trying to decide which one they wanted! Actually, they wanted ALL of them, but rules are rules!! One!!