Endings

I can't believe it, but the school year has ended and teachers are in the grading and packing mode. Some will leave Pinares for new adventures, following where God is leading. Such is life in the missionary/ex-pat community. Although we've been in missions before, it's always difficult to say goodbyes.
The biggest task at hand is emptying the 1st and 2nd grade building so that workers can put on a much-needed new roof and redo the wiring. This is the building that Harold's brother Hugh helped build in 1978 and the electrical system is still from that era. Another building of similar age burned when a mouse began eating the wiring ( a lot of it runs on the outside of the cement block walls). The kids and I spent the day at the school yesterday helping teachers pack up. They enjoyed helping finish out everyone's candy stash as most teachers give candy as prizes for reading and etc. We will head up again today and I'll try to get some video.
On another note, Bryan is doing better. They hope to get him stabilized and move him to the US where he can be in a hospital that specializes in patients with hemophilia. The one he is in here is the only hospital with the medicine he needs for clotting but as it's a public hospital there are unique challenges.
Mom Cochran is doing well, but Dad is hoping to get her to eat so that he can take her home. They say first results indicate the cancer was contained only in the uterus, but will still reccommend chemo for any free floating cells. It's both an answer to prayer and a cause for continued prayer as she enters the challenge of chemo.
Thanks so much for your prayers as we end out the year and travel home. We look forward to telling you firsthand of what God has been doing through your partnership here.