The Fat Lady Sang

The end of the year at ALPHA is a furry with enrollment, end of the year programs, last minute activities, sports events, and the list goes on.

One of the highlights was an end of the year recital we had last night at school. It was a dream realized. Since we started the school in 2000, music has been part of our curriculum. In a country where the school music program doesn't exist, it was a challenge to forge ahead despite the fact that most people don't have a clue what it is we are trying to do.

This year was the first time we were able to juggle the class schedule just enough to have two instrument groups practice twice a week. Recorder ensemble, lead by my co-teacher, Milton, was the larger of the group. Because of the availability and cost, recorders are the choice of instrument for most of these kids. All of our 3rd and 4th graders learn how to read music and play the recorder in their weekly music class. This optional class was designed for 5th - 7th graders who wanted to continue to learn.

RECORDER ENSEMBLE 2006

Band was a far bigger challenge. Using donated instruments (practically no one would be able to afford their own), seven students started learning the fingering and technique of their instruments. To top it all off, I managed to find a band method available on the internet (downloaded and printed the Adobe files) and started arranging songs for our mix of instruments. No available pre-made band arragments here!

BAND Six of the original 7 students finished the year. The really young one on the far right is me (just in case you didn't recognize!) :)

Jessica, Jezreel and André tried keyboard for a semester

Next year is just around the corner and I hope that the initial results will have spurred interest in more students to take the plunge. Will be sure to let you know how it goes!

VIOLIN QUARTET We invited one of the members from our violin ensemble to fill out a quartet as a guest presentation.

7th GRADE CHOIR This group practiced and performed at our first recital in June. For never having sung in a choir, these kids managed to learn 3 parts on several songs and really grew in their vocal ability. Due to scheduling problems we were unable to continue during the 2nd semester.

There Always Has to be One

Violin Ensemble

from left to right: Isac (the director of the conservatory and our violin teacher) Samuel, André (one of Jessica's classmates), Fabinho, Jessica, and Lori

Outside of school and church, Jessica and I participate in a small violin ensemble. It adds a different dimension to our lives because we rub shoulders with people in the community that we wouldn't otherwise even have the chance of getting to know.

In a culture where kids don't have the opportunity to participate in school band or choir, it gives Jessica a chance to learn what it is like to play along with others and to be responsible to learn and carry her own part in the group.

We get together once a week for a couple of hours to practice and develope our repetoir in addition to presentations (usually one or two a month).

The members of our group are pretty serious about music and generally pay attention, learn their parts and get down to business. Well, that is, except for one...he is almost always late, practices between songs, goofs around, forgets his music, etc. For the most part we are pretty gracious and forgiving, but sometimes it gets to be a little too much. :) But isn't that the way it usually goes? There always has to be one!

I Can Read!!!

Anabel is very pleased to show you her new Bible. It is the BIG prize for learning how to dicifer the symbols that when joined together represent words in our language...in an other word (pun intended!) READING!

As if that isn't enough, she is accomplishing this in two languages, simultaneously, with no difficulty in discerning between the two. What you and I wouldn't give to have a fresh new brain like that, huh!

In an age where kids are spoon-fed t.v., movies, videos, video games, etc, there isn't much motivation for "turning on the brain". The practice of reading just isn't the "activity of choice". Kids just want to veg and let it all soak in.

So, we are celebrating as the last of our 3 kids has passed this milestone. Next time you are in Mossoró for lunch, don't be surprised if a 6 year old asks you to read to her or, better yet, be read to after the meal. There isn't anything she would like better!

In case you would like to write Anabel a note for her to READ, her e-mail is
anabelstucky@gmail.com

In case anyone is interested, the method I used to teach all three of the girls how to read (in English!) can be found at the following web site. It came highly recommended to me and I also very highly recommend it.
http://www.startreading.com/

It Could Be You!

Chris Senner from Washington just arrived from the US. He is here to do wiring at ALPHA (He also had fresh mango juice for lunch!)

Over the last 15 years in Brazil, we have hosted quite a number of visitors who have come to serve and learn. The first was Ken's cousin Melina. She came for 4 months back in 1994. That was her first time. After she got married, she brought her husband Steve. They are now missionaries in Papua New Guinea.

While Melina was here, her cousin (our cousin, too), Eric came. That was the first of 3 visits he made to help us set up computer equipment, set up music software, bring us even more equipment...you get the idea.

Does it look like people who come to visit are obligated to come back? You can be the judge of that. Renee is here right now teaching English for her 2nd time. Maybe it's that they just can't stay away.

Since 1994 we have hosted 30+ from Washington State, 24 from South Dakota, 11 from Iowa, 11 from Nebraska, 3 from Texas, 3 from Kansas, 2 from Illinois, 2 from Oklahoma, and 4 from Mali, West Africa. Quite a number of these made repeat trips. Like Gilbert and his daughter Jessica who are planning to bring the entire family next summer.

There are many reasons to come visit: teaching English for 2 weeks - 6 months, mix cement and get hands dirty, build a septic system, wiring, needing to understand what on earth the Stucky's are always talking about, vacation, or just gotta have some of that fresh mango juice. :)

If you are interested in what opportunities might be here for you, write or call us. Would love to have you.

kenstucky@gmail.com

loristucky@gmail.com

home phone: 5584-3312-1012

or Skype at: loristucky

Zoom On In

Arial photo taken about 5 years ago of ALPHA'S property

(the Ken Stucky house is just off the bottom of the picture)

Thanks to Phil Goosen we now have the official coordinates of the Stucky house. Just paste these numbers -5 12 55.4, -37 20 5.3 (yes, all at the same time!) into Google Earth and you can virtually dive into our swimming pool from outer space.

Don't have Google Earth...you don't know what you are missing. We have been all over the world and back (in less than 80 days!). Go to the following link to download some fun. :)

http://download3dearth.googlepages.com/english

OOOO!!!! AHHHH!!!

Alicia and Anabel with Uncle Jason and Aunt Debby Kraai

Mossoró, March 2006

Back in March my sister and brother-in-law came to visit. This was the culmination of a couple of years of thought and planning (for them AND us!). My brother-in-law, Jason, is a cabinet maker. My kitchen has needed cabinets for a long time. So Jason and Debby came down to help me realize a dream...an island for my kitchen.

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After lots of measuring, drawing up plans, and buying harware, they came down and started into this project. Unfortunately, because of some problems on our end, things didn't get started quite as fast as we had hoped and their time didn't allow for completion, but GETTING STARTED is the important thing.

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Last night we moved it into the kitchen (just Ken, Jessica, Alicia and I) and put the granite on top. (You'll have to ask Ken to give you an estimate on how heavy this puppy is.) Still needs the drawer fronts and doors, but it has already made a great addition to the kitchen just in extra counter top. Extra high for stools on both ends to pull up to and do homework or peel potatoes and storage you can get at from both sides.

The girls are thrilled to have room for ALL the dry dishes before putting them away. :)

Just to give you an idea of the height, I put a normal chair by one end.

Proclamation of the Republic

How's your history? I never really appreciated it till I was all grown up. Now I can't seem to get enough of it.

Today is November 15th, a national holiday in Brazil. It marks the end of Brazil's monarchy and the beginning of a republican form of government. Brazil is the only country in the "new world" whose monarch left the "old world" and set up house in the "colony". (Photo: Emperor Dom Pedro II of Brazil, 1873)
Actually, the royal family was escaping anihalation. Napoleon was on the move and they believed he was moving in their direction. Better to get out of the way than to face the music.

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I think it is quite interesting that at about the same time the Portuguese royals were on the run, Napoleon needed a little extra cash to keep his army supplied. Thus, he sold off France's territory in the "new world" (to be known by future generations as the Louisiana Purchase).

In case you are dying to know more, check it out on...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil

So what are we doing on such a historic day? Well, there is no school...YIPEE! Ken worked in the office and took a nap. I defrosted the freezer and helped Anabel clean up her play corner (which was threatening to take over the entire house!). Jessica had a friend over. They swam, made cookies, cleaned up the kitchen, played games and practiced their instruments.

Jessica and Sara practicing for ALPHA's recital end of November

November is also the month that our acacia tree is in full bloom. The air was perfectly still while I sat outside for my devotions. The blossoms really perfumed the air. Wish you could have been here to enjoy it, too.

ACACIA tree, or otherwise known here in Brazil as "gold rain"