Tuesday, March 6, 2012



The last art class

Sadly Sunday was my last art class but it was by far the most fun. Jackie left a few days ago and I will be leaving next week.

Ronal and ten of the boys, who have been to almost every class, walked all the way to the ferry to meet me. The boys were stoked when I told them we were going to go to the beach and collect driftwood to paint. I soon realized they were far more excited about the prospect of swimming on this hot day than collecting driftwood.

Garnell, Ronale, and Paul (to whom we owe the success of the program) guided us down a windy path, by abandoned buildings and under tall coconut palms, to a tiny little beach. There was no stopping the boys from stripping down to their boxers and jumping in the water.

The boys looked like they were having the time of their life splashing around in the shallow water. Ronal told me that out of all the kids their age in the Peas and the Mud less than 20% of them know how to swim!

Jonathan was the first boy to get out of the water. He seemed sad so I sat and talked to him while he put on his shoes. He told me he was sad because his mom died. Jonathan is an orphan who lives with his 15-year-old brother. He told me “we have to beg for food you know?” Then, with a glimmer of hope in his eye, he asked if I would adopt him. Heartbroken, I explained that I am too young to adopt him and assured him he will be fine and will grow up smart and strong.

It took much coaxing to get the rest of the boys out of the water, but once they did they enthusiastically roamed the beach in search of driftwood. Each boy carried at least two pieces of wood, mostly twisty buttonwood or palm frons back to the community center.

We laid out the wood on the grass in the back yard of the community center. I filled egg cartons with all colors of acrylic paint. After a quick snack of peanut butter, crackers and some much appreciated water the students jumped right into painting.

All of the boys, including the ones whose attention span for art is extremely short, diligently painted their beach treasures. Dark rain clouds and a dramatic shift in the wind forced us to end the class a few minutes short but most of the wood, and some of the children, were covered in paint.

I have gotten permission from Jonathan’s uncle and Bensons father to take them to hope town on Friday to spend the night with us on our boat. They have never been to Hope Town and have probably never been on a boat before, let alone slept on one. I am so excited to take them to the beach and take them fishing with my boyfriend Corey. Stay posed for an update on their adventure!