Daily Life at Emmanuel

Singing Happy Birthday to Suly (in the blue dress)at her 23rd birthday party. Suly lives in the infant house and works in the small boys house. She is junior staff and a good role model for the younger teen mothers in the infant house.
 

Lined up for school.

There are about 30 teens and young women who live and/or work in the infant and toddler houses combined. Some work in the store, kitchens, other houses or places throughout the orphanage. The school is in session from 8:30 until 11:30 then from 1:00 till 2:30. They do chores before school, during noon break and after school to help keep their houses in order. They are typical teens and young women who like to have fun and tease each
other.

Sunday Diner at the Madsen's Biscuits and meatloaf (recipe on the side)

I began facilitating psychoeducational groups this past week with 21 of the girls ranging in ages from 13 to 20+ Our first discussion was on self-esteem. Through an interpreter we talked about the value of positive self-esteem. In Genesis, God tells us that we were created in His image. In I Cor 6:19-20 Paul tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and "Therefore honor God with your body." We honor God when we take care of ourselves, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Exercise is one activity that can help elevate esteem and improve our physical wellbeing. God provided the opportunity for the girls to participate in a fun exercise session with a Zumba DVD in a box of Special K I bought in the Wal Mart in Tegucigalpa! Saturday's session was Zumba time.

Toddler House

Crock Pot Meatloaf
Ingredients:
3 pounds ground beef
4 cups bread crumbs
2 cups ketchup 
    (substituted 14.5 oz diced tomatoes)
1 cup onion, chopped
4 eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
16 slices American cheese, cut into strips  
    (substituted 10 slices of cheddar cheese)
6 ounces tomato paste, canned
    (substituted 4 oz of ketchup)

Directions: 
1.  Make a liner out of foil for easy clean up.
2.  Combine ingredients except cheese and tomato
     paste. Shape half of mixture into a loaf and
     place in the crock pot.
3.  Arrange the cheese strips on the meat and top
     with remaining meat, pressing edges together
     to seal. Place in slow cooker.
4.  Top with tomato paste. Cover; cook on Low 6-8
     hours or High 3-4 hours.