Books, Books and Books!!!

Back when we put out the request for books for El Instituto Laurens, the church-related school where both of us were teaching, we had no idea how things would turn out.  All we knew was that there were no reading books for the students in the elementary grades (in fact, still are none for middle-schoolers and high-schoolers!).  And, we knew from our own teaching experience that reading is so very important for both gaining knowledge and for school success.

Why did we ask you for books??  In Mexico (as in most Latin American countries), books are on average twice the price as books in the US...and children's books can be three to four times the price.  Basically, books are a luxury item that most Mexicans simply can't touch.  We figured that you all might be like many of us Americans with more than enough books to spare...or at least able to pick them up at yard-sales or on clearance sales. 

So, we sent out the word...and you responded.  Families--like the Koughs, the Chambliss, the Watkins, the Dillards--and churches in Georgia, South Carolina and Texas--like Coosa, Marietta First, St. Philips, Gainesville First, Antioch, Woodlawn, Bethel--all these and more responded by sending boxes of love deftly disguised as boxes of books.  The result??  Over 2,000 books for the Kindergarten through 6th grade students at El Instituto Laurens in Monterrey.  See for yourself:

Little ones with their first books!

Even the teacher is enthralled!

 

Reading to the students...something that never happened before....

Mrs. Andrea Grimaldo, who coordinates this whole reading program.

Look!!  Books!!!

Ms. Rosalva, one of Jon's former students, reading to the children.

So, you can see that these books are already winning the hearts and minds of these young people.  Thankfully, you have sent ALL kinds of reading for these children--classics, new readers, Christian literature and Bibles.  We hope that as these young people grow in knowledge and academic skills that they will also find the faith woven into the fabric of the school curriculum.

None of this would not have happened without your giving--THANK YOU ALL for your gifts.  You are impacting more lives than you can imagine.  Also, none of this would have come about without the support and interest of the school administration, especially that of the school English coordinator, Mrs. Andrea Grimaldo.  She and the administration have asked us to pass on their greatest thanksgiving for all you have done to impact the school and the lives of these students.

If you would like to continue to send books, we will be happy to take them down.  Mrs. Grimaldo is talking now about actually having a library for students to come to for reading materials.  And, she hopes to see reading corners incorporated into all the classrooms--middle school and high school.  If you want to send books for any or all of this, just mail them our way!  (E-mail us or respond in the comments for more information.)

Again, thank you all...and may God bless you all as you bless the lives of others! 

The Herrins...
Living on the Edge
October 2011