Meet Alfri

Alfri using a flag during worship time one day.

       Alcinio (Alfri) Aquino Duran has been attending Genesis since the summer of 2009. He lives with his mom Dina, his dad Alcinio, and his sister Yenifer in Palo Blanco. He rides a moto to school driven by a neighbor or sometimes. The ride is about 6-7 KM. Alfri has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus. It is a condition that means he has water on his brain. He has had this since birth. He is basically non-verbal but........ that does not mean he can't express his needs and wants. One of our goals this past summer for Alfri and others similar to him, are that we are not working as hard on the math and social studies skills with him but rather trying to teach him simple words to help him more in in the life skills area.

      Alfri had an older sister, Alcenia, that died this past fall from a lung disease. She had been in a wheel chair for most of her life. Karen, Maribel and I try to get out to Alfir's house for a home visit fairly often as a support to Dina.

Dina and Yenifer in front of their home in Palo Blanco

Arriving on a moto driven by a neighbor this day

      At our graduation day celebration the beginning of August, Dina came up to us and told us that Alfri would not be able to attend the fall semester as the family only had the one moto and his dad needed it to go to work each day and the van transportation was too expensive. We had an offer from our home church to pay for the van transportation (about $750 USD per year) so we went to tell Dina of that offer. While we were there talking with her, I had another thought. After some discussion, I came up with a plan to donate her a moped that I had available (worth about $300 USD) and then she could use that if she needed to do some errands during the day too. It made more sense to me to go that route as it would be less than half the out put cost and provide more options. He has now been able to come back to school and we have been able to use that money from our church to provide transportation for another student. GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME. 

Face painting day at Genesis

        I try to meet the kids each morning as they arrive but on the occasional morning I am still in the office when Alfri gets there, I can hear him say as he comes up the steps. "Mike?", wondering why I am not where I am suppose to be :).   He always has a hug and a huge smile for me. Alfri is a real joy to have at Genesis

Dia de caballo (Horse day) at Genesis.

Getting his face painted by Elli, one of our summer interns.