Dios Es Amor

Rebeca, my newest addition to LI,  looks up
 to smile at me while her buddy, Hilda, focuses 
on her writing. That's Imelda seated in the
 back on the left.  Check out that smile--
that's what hope looks like!

Today was a big day for Loving InDeed--I started our new literacy program!  Of the 23 widows enrolled in LI, only 3 of them can read, write, or do basic math.  I felt like it was time to tackle that issue.  I can't tell you how much we all loved it!  I really miss being in the classroom sometimes, so this just thrills me to the core! And there wasn't one single woman who didn't have a huge smile on her face when I passed out their notebooks and we got started. I know this process scares most of them.  We are starting from scratch--how to hold a pen--and that can be pretty intimidating  for women in their 30's and 40's who've never had the opportunity to go to school.

The thing I love best about the program is that I am using scripture to teach reading.  Each week we'll do a different letter and memorize a new verse or piece of one.  Today was the letter Aa using  I John 4:8 "Dios es amor." We talked about how having love and being love are two different things.  My hope is that they'll not only get better nutrition, medical care, an education, and a marketable skill, but that they'll also learn more about their Heavenly Father who has promised to be a father to orphans and a defender of widows.

Aura's son, Daddy, looks over his mom's shoulder to
make sure she's doing a good job.

The warehouse that I purchase food from gives me bonuses because of the quantity that I buy, so I used those extra goodies as prizes for the ladies who were willing to come up and practice writing our letter of the day on the whiteboard.  Others won prizes for finding all the a's in a given sentence, even though they could not read the sentence.  I also gave prizes to women who could think of other words that started with that same sound.  Even with rewards, it was hard to get volunteers at first, but they quickly warmed up to the idea when they realized that they were ALL in the same boat, and there was no need to be embarrassed. They have promised to practice writing the letter and to memorize the verse so that they have it down by next week.  Nearly every woman in LI has children who are not yet school age, but are close.  The kids were all ears this morning and learning right along with their moms.  I'm sitting here grinning from ear to ear just remembering how it all happened. Imagine all these little ones entering school already ahead of their peers!

Marta was so anxious about her work, but I
think she did a fabulous job.  I'm so proud of
these ladies for even being willing to try!

When I was finished with the lesson, I dismissed them all, but no one left.  One by one, they trickled up to see me, hug me good-bye, and show me their notebooks even though I'd not asked to see them.  Twenty-three times I heard, "I can't do this very well, but here it is.  Is it ok?" And twenty-three times I got to respond with a smile, a hug, and "These look wonderful!  You did a great job. I think this one here is your best one. I knew you could do it!" Their genuine smiles made my whole day! They are so very eager to please and so vulnerable. It was absolutely precious...one of my most memorable LI days ever.  I can't wait to see what they can do as their confidence grows!