Day 3! More beans!!!

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THIS OTHER BLOG FOR LOTS MORE (and more coherent updates from our other team members!) http://mathworkselhogar.blogspot.com/

We are having so much fun.. We started the day with classroom visits. Lori and I like the math class probably only second to the 1st graders who were working hard. The kids are very disciplined and all different ages depending on how much education they had before coming to El Hogar. A 6 year old can be sitting next to a 12 year old in the same class...

We have laughed so much. These Mathworks people are the smartest people I have every been with. I wonder if any of it will rub off?¿ And IBMer´s think they are smart! Just kidding all you IBMers. Conversations in the kitchen revolve around never mind ' Lori doesn´t even understand it. OK - so forget all that. The real story of the day is that we had a great one. I was the smartest one today though.... I chose to work inside instead of being outside in the heat. I painted 4 doors and Lori pulled nails out of old wood and picked up glass.

Beans with cheese, beans with sour cream, beans with rice...and Lori is hungry but filling up on Diet Coke. We are having a great time if you can´t tell. Below is a creative example of a bean s`more (with chocolate:)

In the afternoon after much needed showers (Lori went last and had a FRIO shower). We played Domino´s with Wilmer who had the most adorable smile and laugh.

Here we are posing by a prior teams artwork..

Hasta pronto,

Lori and Diane

Hola!

We are here!!! We arrived safely yesterday morning. Seemed we barely skimmed a house or two on landing, but we made it. After arriving we had rice with chicken for lunch and then we all napped like babies for a few hours. After our beans and plantain dinner (Lori LOVES plantains but not the beans....). We all went to bed at 9:00 because we had been awake since 3:00 am! Coffee is great, kids are cute but our spanish is pathetic. The kids laugh at us but smile at the same time. We are getting dirty sitting on the ground with them and expect to get even dirtier tomorrow as we begin mixing cement for a drainage system behind the new beautiful dorm for the kids.



Church was entirely in spanish but no we stayed awake. No hugs and "Peace be with you" due to the fear of the swine flu. We knew we were all safe though, as we got heat scanned in the airport by masked gunmen and employees. After church we headed to McDonald´s (yes, McDonalds) with a few of the kids as a treat for good behavior or grades. They ate every french fry....and so did we.....

Thank you everyone who has been SO generous. Lori and I are truely touched that you all would offer your much valued dollars for these kids. 1 month from today! The count down is on.

You can be a part of our trip!

March 27, 2009

Dear friends,

We hope this letter finds you well. The Tavis and Statkus families are busy gearing up for Spring as we know you are too! We (Lori and Diane) want to tell you about an incredible opportunity we have - and are asking you to be a part of it! On May 2nd we are going to assist in the improvement of educational conditions in the second poorest country in the Americas. We are spending a week at El Hogar in Tegucigalpa Honduras. El Hogar is a home that provides a loving environment, housing and academic education for over 200 abandoned, orphaned and hopelessly poor children. They also enable the children to learn a marketable skill and to fulfill their ultimate potential as productive citizens.

We are going as part of Lori's company's work team from The MathWorks Company, to live with and spend time with the children. We will see how they live today, travel to see conditions they came from and will help the school with projects.

We are paying our own way along with the other 10 team members. Even in this difficult economy we are stretching to raise $1,000 to assist El Hogar in providing these young children with education in their fight for a future. Our economic issues here have a domino effect around the rest of the world and that includes Honduras. Can you generously give $20 and also be a part of this great experience? Every dollar goes directly to El Hogar and every dollar helps.

Why Honduras?

• Honduras is the second poorest country in the Americas
• Illiteracy rate is 25%, unemployment is over 30%, 50% of the population is living below the poverty rate
• Many children live on the streets or in little more than cardboard and tin pieced together
• Teenage gangs offer a sense of belonging to children with no alternatives
• We believe that educating these children will help develop a growing middle class and begging and stealing will not be their only means if they are "lucky" enough to survive

Can you help us meet our goal and be a part of this with us?

TO DONATE:

1. Online go to: https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=22646 (and put “Lori and Diane/MathWorks” in the Restricted Gift box area)

OR

2. Send a check to:

Lori Tavis, 118 Adams Dr . Stow, MA 01775 Make checks payable to: El Hogar Ministries or EHMI

With our sincerest thanks

Lori and Diane

PS: Also, The MathWorks Company in Natick MA will match every dollar we raise! Won’t you be part of that by contributing what you can by May 1, 2009?

El Hogar Ministries, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) non-profit tax-exempt corporation. All donations given to El Hogar Ministries are fully tax-deductible For more information visit: http://www.elhogar.org/

Diane and I are off to Tegucigalpa, Honduars

http://www.elhogar.org/