Star pupil.

Meet Alixon...ten years old, only child, shares a house with her younger cousins, likes to knit. She is the epitome of a responsible girl who will achieve much in her life. I probably would have competed for her role of self-appointed class monitor at her age, but the comraderie of student/teacher works well.

When class starts she is super attentive and always carries Andres' (her cousin) notebook, pencil and paper in her bag, ready to distribute them when needed. If Andres and Gerald start arguing or whispering, she will typically move to sit between them, not forgetting to whisper a hushed "callase." (Translated as something between shut up and be quiet.)

Another way that she is a "star pupil," if you will, is that she helps the other students communicate with me. When they're talking to me rapidly in their prepubescent Spanish I look at Alixon and she translates in the Spanish that I understand. Slowly and in simple structures. It takes so much effort to understand how our idioms and slang affect communication with an outsider. I appreciate Alixon's attempts to make teaching easier and will definitely miss her as a student.

A young woman named Taylor will be coming in June to take over the role that Rebecca and I have and while this is a great blessing, there will be a lapse of a month. I trust that God will use our efforts for His good and that the relationship with Alixon and the other students will continue.