I really don't have a clever title

Today was filled with more construction with the group from Iowa. I was in charge of getting people set up at the different work sites, and then overseeing the Santa Maria construction site. It was a great day. I enjoyed the work, and getting to know the group better. After work today, we returned to the house. Here I learned that it was the last day of school for Jesse and Nancita. After they told me, they burst out into cheers as if Mexico won the world cup. Dra. Nancy and I had a good laugh at that. Now that school is out, the kids will continue swim lessons almost every day. These kids love swimming. They brag about when its their day to go to swim lessons, how well they're doing, and compare themselves to each other constantly. We never thought that swim lessons would consume their desires and conversations, but it has.

Today Diana (mother of 2 year old Jabez) gave birth to a baby boy. Both mother and child are healthy. She is still in the hospital recovering from the C-section, so tonight is the second night in a row that little Jabez has been staying with us. He is an amazing little boy and full of laughs. He runs around the house, especially wherever I am, yelling Ma-te-o. He insists on sitting next to me and has rarely left my side since I walked in. In fact, before writing this, he was leaning up against me as all of us kids were watching the Simpsons (some comedy does carry across languages). I feel really honored and love playing with the little guy, but I can't help but feel sad as I recognize the lack of a father figure in his life. As I walked around with him today on my shoulders, or held his hand down the stairs, or picked him up after he fell, I couldn't help but think that someone else should be doing all of these things. Some guy has no idea what he has walked away from.

I have also really enojoyed getting to know Gloria more the last few days. She has pushed me to talk more, as she can't understand why I don't talk as much as her teenage friends. In the last couple of days we have connected over music. Although not many of our tastes overlap, I at least know all of the American bands she listens to, some of which I listened to in middle school. It has been good to connect in some way. She has a very sad story which I'd heard from Larry and Nancy, but am also begining to hear from Gloria as well. She is an amazing girl and to have such a good outlook on life is inspiring, even as she tells me about some of her freinds with similar situations but harmful coping mechanisms.

This has been a great day. I feel as though I have worked hard this week, but more importantly the relationships I have been making are strengthening every day. I cannot be happier about that.

Paz,
Mateo