Just here for the kids

Oge, in a classroom in the Children's Village —buried in an after-school boy pile.

Heepke and a new friend.

Watching volleyball with Anna.

A routine but hugely rewarding part of the week: Helping out with the after-school program at the Children's Village. Making snacks, helping with homework, singing and dancing, playing on the playground — all in an afternoon's work.

Alternative theme for the week!

Ryan, talking with the group about his day today, said he really enjoyed playing games (like Steal the Bacon, a new one which the kids taught him) with the after-school group.

"Some of the kids were kinda bad, though. But since I was like that when I was their age, I was just laughin' at the badness. . ."

Photo: Ryan in action, playing Steal the Bacon with the local kids

Planting seeds and changing lives

Another crazy day for the Wittenberg and Northwestern folks, this one packed with gardening with kids, painting houses, roofing, tutoring, playing on the playground, shooting portraits of young moms-to-be, and cooking after-school treats for 50 students and dinner for 30 hungry volunteers.

Photos (above): Tyler and Kirstie show students how to lay black plastic in the flower bed. (below): 1) Fist bump! 2) Nickie's prenatal class gets crazy; 3) Mica and new friends on the playground; 4) Cathy gets tickled at Karl's rendition of the Taboo Rap; 5) the Wednesday Night team of tortilla chefs: Erin, Tori, Clint, and Kirstie.