The girls in Nicaragua are doing beautifully! We received their midterm report cards and letters, and it is wonderful to hear from them. They all sound happy and excited, and no wonder. Almost all of them got to participate in the annual September parade this year because of their performance in school!

If a student receives an average in the 80s, he or she will be a cumplidor(a), marching in the parade with a special costume or uniform. An average in the 90s means you are a bandadero(a); you get to hold the flag in the parade—a big honor! Almost all of our girls got to be one or the other this year. Here are their averages:

Tatiana: 96% (wow!) She got to be a bandadera
Sua: 92% (another wow!) She was also a bandadera
Odalis: 86%
Michel: 84%
Alondra: 83%
Teresa: 83%
Karina: 82%

The only grades we haven’t gotten yet are Fatima’s, and we are waiting to receive those. We couldn’t be prouder of all the girls; they are trying hard and doing so well. Remember, Karina and Fatima are studying on Saturdays only, which means that they have to do a whole week’s worth of school in one day. That’s a big challenge, and Karina’s grades have improved markedly since she began, showing us that she’s really trying hard. While we are really proud of their performance in their classes, we are prouder of their efforts. All of them had high marks in attendance and punctuality, which means they are working hard at their education. Congratulations, girls!

In other news, we received word from a group in Salt Lake City that they’d like to donate the proceeds from their annual BeWitch Salt Lake party to us! We are incredibly grateful to them and to our friend Zina Bennion, who told them about us. Thanks, Zi! If you’re in Salt Lake City on October 24, think about attending. It’s inexpensive, sounds like a blast, and ends up being for a great cause. Sorry guys, it’s a ladies’ night out!

What: BeWitch Salt Lake costume party and gala (ladies, dress up like your favorite interpretation of a witch)
When: October 24, 2015 – 7:00 to 10:30 PM
Where: Trolley Square, 600 S. 700 E. in the South Court
How Much: $5. Tickets available HERE