I finally got everyone grouped up during the first week of school.  Typical first days excitement wearing spotless white or blue shirts and pants or skirts that still have zippers intact.  Also sporting backpacks with all the necessities.

The Taiwanese Businessmen’s Association supplied us with backpacks and notebooks, but everything else; from school supplies, clothes, shoes, belts, to new underwear for 44 youngsters was completely funded by Bonnie Goodman’s FaceBook Birthday Fund Raiser. (try to say that 3 times fast!)  We had enough money to have our 4 preschool girls suited up and school supplied as well.  They were overjoyed with the opportunity to go to the market like the big kids and get fitted for their own school clothes and shoes to wear everyday in the preschool.

Enjoy the update and thank you for your support as we do everything in our power to NOT have these children become negative statistics.

The primary school kids and our 7th and 8th graders leave out the back gate promptly every morning.  One morning the gate was locked so they sent one of the 3rd graders to come get the key from me.  I handed it over then raced to beat him to the group as I realized it would be a good photo opportunity since so many of them were together.  The primary schoolers rushed to school scared of being late; rushed all the way around the block to the school across the street…while the 7th and 8th graders hurriedly biked it the 4.2 kilometers to their school.

We are so proud of our kids, especially our high schoolers who are mostly the first member of their biological family to get this far in education!