MURALIFIC!!

Grade 2 Students finish drawing their design
for Grade 1 Mural, with help from a mom.

Plan for Grade 1 Mural

A few years ago, when I was in Bolivia, I was asked to paint Psalm 23 on the wall in the living area of Bolivian Youth Ministries. Since then, I've had the privilege to paint murals and facilitate kids painting murals in Sunnyside, WA. Now I have a group of students at HOPAC in Tanzania who have designed six murals, one for each primary classroom. We are at the stage where their designs are being drawn on the walls, with the stage they've all been waiting for coming soon... PAINT! It's exciting to see colors and ideas going up on the wall. I'm happy and intrigued to see that God has put all these murals in my path, and I wonder what may be in the future. And yes... each one does have a mermaid.

Papaya Knocking

Sometimes a basket of papayas, or a bag of tomatoes or peppers, just shows up at our door. Beka, the gardener who works for our landlord, enjoys using some of our yard for fruit cultivation. Sometimes he leaves us a gift, a very welcome and sweet surprise!

Nature Table

The nature table is a place to put intriguing items found in nature. There's no instructional intent, besides encouraging discussion about the wonders around us. I just put the table out for the first time this year... Giant seed pod, rock with hole, fish bones, sea sponge, black Hawaiian sand. These are all finds I've picked up in my wanderings, things that show God's work in the details.
I'm pleased because the kids have caught the idea and ran with it... They have added unique leaves, flowers, a bird nest... These two sweet girls put together a "mango smoothie" for me, out of a baobab seed pod, stick, and flowers. I love this class!