It was wonderful to see Erika again. She is the fifth child of eight children. Her mother died last summer. She was a deeply sad child when I saw her in August but happier Saturday. She had been unable to go to school for a couple of years, but she did complete her sixth grade education. She showed me a picture that she keeps in her Bible of when she graduated from primary school. Fortunately by the grace of God she started colegio today (Monday)! Colegio is a combination of our middle school and high school. Today, thanks to Sharefish, Chuck (Pepe) Nichols and Pastor Antonio Mejia of Iglesia Bautista were there to see 12 kids from El Carrizo start colegio. This is the beginning of their school year.
Erika has a lot of responsibility for a girl her age (in addition to caring for her piglet). When I am in El Carrizo, very often either she or her sister Rita, who is 16, take care of “Ana”, who is about a year old. (Rita could not write her name last February – Erika wrote it for her.) I believe Ana is their niece, but I haven’t confirmed, given my limited Spanish. 
The desire to know more Spanish burns in us when we are here.
My prayer is that Erika will be able to stay in school in spite of her adult responsibilities. I saw Oie, Benjamin, Pepe, Carlitos, Jose, Carter, and JB surrounded by kids in El Carrizo Sunday, and they know and love many, many children like Erika, as do many of you. It is our Hope and prayer that the children will get an education and improve life for themselves and their families, and they will one day be able to give others Hope in El Carrizo and beyond!
Adapted post from Gregorio from his Baptist Men’s Mission trip through First Baptist Church Raleigh
