Yes! Even more of the children have had a wonderful day of graduation yesterday. Gabby and Marianna hosted the festivities. There was a Chinese theme with pagodas, lanterns, kimonos, parasols, chow mein and chop suey. Both the sewing class and the culinary class graduated. Each brought with them a sampling of what they had been working on all year.

The culinary students, a good many of them male, completed their course and received their chef's aprons. They prepared a sampling of what they had learned in a Chinese festival of sorts. It was delicious. Rice, chow mein, chop suey, won tons, Waldorf salad, and, of course, a delicious sweet cake for desert. It was a lovely presentation and tasted as good as it looked.

The sewing class had a display of place mats, curtains, blankets, house robes, tablecloths and other work that the young ladies had completed. Many more things had been given away to family and friends. They did a beautiful job.

This was Ms. Renee's last class here at Casa, and she gave recognition to both this year's students and next year's, as well. Then Walter gave her a plate inscribed with Casa's thanks for her service. It was lovely. The children call her Abuelita. It is an affectionate term for grandmother, and that is what they put on the plate. We will certainly miss Ms. Renee. She has such patience with the girls who come to her house looking for salt to put on their avocados, and the myriad other requests of her. This is only my first year here and I will miss her greatly. I look forward to her yearly graduation visits in the future.

Church this morning was blessed and this afternoon Jan and I are going to speak to Adam's dorm. Then it is time for another week. Please continue to pray for the classes, for the children, and for the workers here at Casa. God has been so good to us here and worked out so many things. His hand is always near. I know that and thank you for your prayers for my health, too. God is so good. God bless and keep you. I love and miss you and pray for you daily.

In His Service,
Pamela