August 30, 2010

amazing day - both good and bad ....

bad - Nini is on her deathbed and I already miss her more than I can really put into words. we spent so many years working side by side, then she became director of the school I taught at, and now she is dying a slow horrid death by brain cancer. I am devastated and I want my friend back.

bad: I guess one of the boys wo was on the trip
1. stole money from another kid
2. threatened to knife him when he called him on it. jeepers creepers. i have left it up to the boys to decide if they can work with him or if we should just let him go ... hard call ... for sure I do not know how to handle him. his dad is an alcoholic, his mom is MIA 90% of the time. I tried so hard to give him some self esteem. he is very lost.

greatnews: the boys are soooooooooo excited about the next trip and are going to start working with us and not against us in the effort to raise cash !! Finally "a ficha caiu " as we say in Portuguese. They see the light - if we have moeny we can go places and do things. If we don't have money, we can't.

All the boys are happy and I can tell that something happened this weekend. They grew up. They matured. I think they say Les and I worling for them and trying so hard to make life perfect on this trip. I gotta hand it to Les - he was fantastic and I am not sure what angel stepped in to make him so agreeable :))))))))))))))) It was hot and humid and he had every right to be anunhappy camper. He smiled and really was relaxed the whole time - which made me relax .... and have a great time !!!