“Be true friends to animals and so to share the blessings of the merciful”.                  Albert Schweitzer

Many comments have been received from “Friends” regarding the passing of the “Jakester”. We appreciate your thoughts and it is comforting to know there are those who understand how it feels to lose a pet. I decided to share just a few of the comments;

“I really hate to hear about Jake passing away. I know he was the family’s pet and yours too. He was a pretty Lab”.  Gwen H.

The “Jakester”

“Sorry about Jake. We have lost many dogs and one was our beloved pink nosed yellow Lab, Jake. Special…we still think of him. I am thinking old Jake is up there sitting on a cloud with Anne wagging his tail and smiling”.  Lin C.

“The “Jakester” has been fortunate to be cared for these fourteen years. Rest peacefully, dear Jake”.  Lisa B. 

“Very sorry about the loss of Jake”.  Ray P.

“So sorry about the Jakester.”  Carolyn B.

Then my sister Patty wrote this note to me;

“Our Mom-Granny, (Anne) was also very fond of him and Jake loved her. Thanks for being a friend to Jake and loving him. He always hated to see you leave our house and he developed a bark to let you know not to leave”.    Pat Wright

Sometimes, those things we love and say goodbye to are the ties used by God to bind us closer together.

In other news,

There has been very positive feedback on the Learning Center’s start-up and the new staff assembled to get the job done. The last Post highlighted the credentials of the staff and we commend Eve and others for the staff selections they have made.

As “Friends of Copey”, our learning never ends. Not only are we growing much more aware of life elsewhere, we are learning more about volunteerism and the talents of those who unselfishly serve in unfamiliar and sometimes unfriendly places.

Both Hailey and Eve exemplify “volunteerism”. Hailey (Friend of Copey) volunteered to leave home back in 2013, saying goodbye to family, friends, and many of life’s comforts to devote 90 days of her life in Copey to teach. Eve, an extraordinary volunteer who could be performing Ballet on a big stage somewhere has been busy teaching and leading the Learning Center for about 18 months. In her spare time she has been training rural kids how to dance. This Post cannot adequately express the admiration and appreciation I have developed for those with the “heart of a servant”. Because of these “servants”, the Learning Center has been, is being, and will continue to be life changing for everyone involved. “Friends”…stick with this! You will end up in places you never dreamed possible. I know!

By the way, the Fundraiser is still moving along. More details in my next Post.

This morning, we said goodbye to a very dear friend. He was a friend that always would welcome you to his home, made you feel special, and would provide you all the attention you could handle. Friends who are steady, always there to comfort and love you, forgiving and have very short memories are not easy to find or keep.

The “Jakester”

My sister Patty and her husband Jim took him in when he was only a pup about 14 years ago. He was a Lab that had the disposition you wish most people would have. His name was “Jake” and we affectionately called him the “Jakester”. For medical reasons and age, it was the right time for the “Jakester” to say goodbye to us and for us to let him go. Doing the best thing out of love is not always the easiest thing to do . “Jakester”, you were special…we will miss you!

We are saying “Hello” to some very special people. The Learning Center has welcomed two new volunteer teachers and the new Executive Director. When the Learning Center’s doors swung open last week to the largest number of students yet, these newcomers were ready to go. Each student level experienced an increased enrollment over previous years. Surprisingly, French has been added to the curriculum and is very popular.

I introduced you to Angela in my previous Post. Without any doubt, she is prepared to meet the various challenges facing the Learning Center this year.

Angela Tribus Ramos
Executive Director

She arrives at the Learning Center after spending close to two years in San Jose, Costa Rica leading and training Peace Corps volunteers and working with the Ministry of Public Education’s National Headquarters. She brings a rich teaching background having worked in both China and Ecuador. Equally important, she is now an official member of the Copey community. She originally hails from Pennsylvania.

Our two other new arrivals are Katrina Gorham and Kerri Borstelmann.

Katrina grew up in the Scottish countryside near Glascow and attended Edinburgh University in 2013.

Katrina teaching new French class

She received her Masters in Modern European Languages (French and Russian) and has taught in both France and Russia. She enjoys traveling, learning languages, reading and music. The community has embraced her arrival to Copey and she is already busy expanding the students’ educational experience by heading up the French course.

Kerri teaching small ones.

Kerri was born in Macon, Georgia and grew up on Long Island, NY. She traveled extensively around the country during the summers with her father who was in the circus. She graduated with a BS in Communicative Disorders and Sciences from the State University of New York at Geneseo. She earned the prestigious Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) in Manhattan and taught at a private English academy in South Korea. She wanted to live in a Latin American country and decided on Copey as her next stop. She enjoys singing, hiking, traveling, and exploring different cultures.

The team is in place and the “Friends of Copey” is as well. Welcome aboard all and we look forward to much excitement and success.

                                  “Goodbye Jakester”

Summer is Ending….and

Thanks to the great generosity of many “Friends of Copey” about 15 young kids in the Copey community will attend the Learning Center when it opens on February 16.

How wonderful is this?

Some kids will not have to head home while their classmates and friends head down the road to the Learning Center after school each day.

These AGB scholarship recipients will now have the same opportunities to learn, grow, and develop just as the other students in Copey. These kids thank you, their parents thank you, the Learning Center thanks you, and I certainly thank you. Stay connected to this Blog and watch magic start to happen when dedicated teachers and students show up next Monday.

Νow…in case you are wondering, we are continuing our fund raising efforts to support the new position at the Learning Center. Our first priority was to get the scholarships in place in time to select students for the AGB Scholarships for enrollment into the Learning Center. Mission Accomplished!

Our next priority is to raise $2,500. The Learning Center will also raise $2,500 to support the annual salary of $5,000 for the new position.

                      Funds Raised  $600.00          Need  $1,900.00

I know this is a BIG BIG fund raising challenge for the “Friends of Copey”! But it is an even BIGGER challenge for a community of about 500 residents, including kids. Operating the Learning Center is a very “bold” commitment and involves a decision to not sit back and allow children to grow up without the educational tools needed to survive and be successful. “Friends of Copey” can do this even if it takes $1.00 at a time to get there.

Now, some “Friends of Copey” have not responded to either one of the fund raising efforts and this is okay. Being a “Friend” does not require responses. But if you have been thinking about donating a few dollars to help out…please do!

Soon, I will announce how several local “Friends” living in Washington state will raise additional funds. This year promises to be AMAZING…from beginning to end!

NEWS FLASH

Other rural communities are looking closely at the Learning Center. It is quickly becoming the education model for teaching English in a rural community environment.

Recently, Eve and several Learning Center students were invited to speak at a community event in a nearby rural town regarding the benefits of a Learning Center. Their presentation and command of English proved very impressive. As “Friends” we should recognize how valuable our support is to the success of the Learning Center as it becomes the model other communities are wanting to follow.  We are making a difference!