Gettin' Girly Here!

I can't believe that we've been here almost two weeks already!  MTI has been everything we hoped for and more.  As we reach this mid-point in our study here, we have really become comfortable with our classmates and their families.  They are some really super people and it's unbelievable to think now, while we're altogether, that in a few short months we will be scattered, literally, all over the globe to such very different people groups and places.

I might have mentioned that there are 39 adults and 30 children participating in training.  Our community all lives together in the retreat center on three different floors.  About half flew here and don't have transportation, so for the most part, after classes are over we stick around the facility and spend a lot of time together in the evenings.

Across from the kitchen is a little marker board/message station where we can leave announcements for each other.  The other day a message appeared, "Polish Party Wednesday night at 7PM!"  Ellie read it and most definitely expressed her desire to go.

Oh my goodness, it was such fun.  The oldest girls in the program are 11 and they range in age down to three months.  The three-month-old didn't participate, but the second youngest did (at age 22 months).  Music played, fingernails were painted, then toes.  Color combinations got funky.  Little sparkles and embellishments added.  It was 100% girly.

I hope I don't embarrass Ellie too bad here, but she was having so much fun, she didn't realize until one had was nearly finished that she had to go potty, like 2 hours ago.  "Oh no.  Oh no.  Potty emergency!  Oh no!  This is NOT good!  My nails are WET!"  All the way down the stairs to the main floor restroom she's repeating (a little too loudly) "Potty emergency!"  We made it in time and she had me there to work her pants so she didn't have to damage her wet nails.

I kept thinking how fun it would be to do something like this with all the girls in Vlashaj.  Fingernail polish is universal!

(below) Most of the crew at the conclusion of the evening.  WAY past bedtime, but parents didn't seem to mind.  How fun to see these girls and friendships develop!

Next week (starting earlier so all of the girls can participate):  H A I R ! ! !