#5

~ 5 days left ~

Lots of busy happenings lately ... finalizing our Power Point presentations, hoping that they will be interesting to the Chilean students, so working on making them interactive. Checking packing lists, checking with each other, trying to be sure that everyone is set. Tomorrow, Friday July 22, we'll be meeting for the last time at McAuley to try to finish things up. We probably won't see each other's faces again until Tuesday at the airport.

Personally, as the teacher/chaperone, I've been very pleased and proud of the girls: their efforts, attitudes, and courage. Yes, it takes courage to go traveling to a foreign country, away from your family, where things are SO different, and at such young ages. I'm proud of the parents, too, because it's not easy to let your young daughter fly off to a strange city, as far south of the equator as Maine is north. Thankfully we're going to people we already know and with people we know, all together!

I believe the time will fly by and at the end of the 4 weeks the girls will be surprised that it's over "already", reluctant in some ways to leave their new "life" in Santiago, yet excited about coming home to share all their amazing experiences with their families, friends, and classmates at McAuley.

I think about how each one of them is like a seed that will grow up and out, influencing each other life that they touch. When I was at the State House and Museum in Augusta last week, I stopped by the Samantha Smith statue, and pondered her short life and amazing influence on the world today. Each one of the McAuley girls going to Chile this summer -- Marissa, Corinne, Leonora, Daphne, Natalie, and Leigh -- will also have the opportunity in their lives to bring change to the world.

"One child can play a powerful part in bringing peace to the world."

I'm excited!

I'm blessed.

~Terrilynn (Señora Dubreuil)