www.Betsy and Terry.fun

We are back into the swing of things here. Allison is back into her basketball season. They won a game last week and now have tournaments the next three weekends. We are spending our weekends at basketball games so haven't had much time to see any more of the country.

I have been spending time sorting and delivering books. Thanks to everyone who contributed to my book drive! The people who have received them are so thankful and it is incredibly humbling to realize that something I take for granted every day, is such a luxury to so many people. One young mother told me "now I can read some new stories to my children!" She has a degree in computer programming and has 5 children under the age of 6. She is one of the lucky ones with a pretty good job, but people here don't spend money on books because living and eating are their priorities. Please keep saving your discarded books and children's magazines especially the picture books with easy reading, National Geographic World, and Highlights. The kids here really love the hidden pictures! I hope to bring back many more to share when I come home in May. So far 3 families, 3 preschools, and two elementary schools have received the books. There are many more children here who need books. Thanks!


On Thursday, January 11, I went to visit a preschool which feeds 30 preschool children every weekday. They have morning calendar activities, alphabet and number practice, and singing activities. The union church put together shoe boxes filled with gifts for them and we were able to deliver them and see the thrilled children as they opened their gifts.

The yoyos were a big hit!

Their lunch was served after they opened their boxes which contained toys, clothes, books, toothbrushes, toothpaste, sanitary wipes, combs, etc....

I was constantly amazed at the children's behavior. They were all polite and well behaved. There were 30 of them in a small area, and in the two hours we were there I didn't see any acting out or loud voices. Unbelievable! These are 4 year olds eating off of their laps after carefully replacing all their gifts in their boxes and putting them under their chairs with very little adult help. What are we doing wrong in the US? I have never seen anything like this in 20 years as an educator and mother of 4 children!