Banana milkshake in a bag.
Carlos and me hangin' out
Carlos and me hangin' out
Wow, what a day - I don't even know where to start! How about the beginning? I was supposed to meet Lourdes and Jairo to go to the airport. They asked me to walk to the point, which is about 15-20 mins and they would pick me up there. Then Jairo called to say Walter would pick me up at the house instead. We talked about getting off the plane in a new country. Jairo asked me what I remember when I got off the plane the first time I visited. He talked about the different language and new people. I told him I just remember thinking, "This place is INCREDIBLY HOT!" Not very insightful, I know.
Walter and I joked about how much luggage all of the ladies had when I visited the first time. I was explaining to him that we were worried about the luggage in the back of his pick up truck. He asked if they were afraid it would get robbed, and I said No! They were afraid it would all fall out! (It was stacked over the top of the cab.)
Finally the from The River church arrived. The airport has little tv monitors at the place where we waited, so we could see them collecting their luggage after they got through customs. They looked exhausted and they had kids with them, but they were all still going strong (well, not strong, but they were all still going) at 8 pm tonight.
We went back to the church, where they were excited to see all of the changes since the last time they visited. Tony came by to say that 20 boys showed up this morning on time at 10 am to help move all of the construction materials from the road to the house. Ninety pound boys carried 100 libre bags of cement on their backs up a hill, down a hill, across a stream, up the side of a mountain and across a billy goat path to the house they are going to work on. They carried countless pails of gravel, and more pails of sand on their shoulders until their shoulders were red and their arms were bruised. And they never complained. After working like this for 4 hours we brought 20 pizzas to them. They stopped and ate, but were soon working again to finish up the work. I was so proud of them. None of them are very big, but they worked HARD. It was a blessing that there was no rain and lots of clouds hid the sun, so the weather was ideal for such physical labor. You can see pictures of the area where they worked under photos I posted previously entitled "A Stroll Through Los Pinos" if you want an idea about the billy goat path.
After getting a little food in their bellies the boys finished quickly and headed back to the church where they played soccer for a while before it was time for their Saturday church school classes. I was so proud of them. And they were proud of themselves and all of the work they had done. One of my new words this week that I learned in Spanish is "proud" - orgulloso.
Jose is a leader of one of the classes. He said that every boy in his class worked with Tony today - although last week when he asked them to volunteer only two raised their hands. However, today he asked for volunteers to cook for family night on Friday and every single one of them volunteered. Looks like they are learning about how good it feels to serve others!
I had time to talk to Jairo about a few things today. It is always such a blessing to spend time one on one with Jairo. I think that is another reason I feel good today.
Walter and I joked about how much luggage all of the ladies had when I visited the first time. I was explaining to him that we were worried about the luggage in the back of his pick up truck. He asked if they were afraid it would get robbed, and I said No! They were afraid it would all fall out! (It was stacked over the top of the cab.)
Finally the from The River church arrived. The airport has little tv monitors at the place where we waited, so we could see them collecting their luggage after they got through customs. They looked exhausted and they had kids with them, but they were all still going strong (well, not strong, but they were all still going) at 8 pm tonight.
We went back to the church, where they were excited to see all of the changes since the last time they visited. Tony came by to say that 20 boys showed up this morning on time at 10 am to help move all of the construction materials from the road to the house. Ninety pound boys carried 100 libre bags of cement on their backs up a hill, down a hill, across a stream, up the side of a mountain and across a billy goat path to the house they are going to work on. They carried countless pails of gravel, and more pails of sand on their shoulders until their shoulders were red and their arms were bruised. And they never complained. After working like this for 4 hours we brought 20 pizzas to them. They stopped and ate, but were soon working again to finish up the work. I was so proud of them. None of them are very big, but they worked HARD. It was a blessing that there was no rain and lots of clouds hid the sun, so the weather was ideal for such physical labor. You can see pictures of the area where they worked under photos I posted previously entitled "A Stroll Through Los Pinos" if you want an idea about the billy goat path.
After getting a little food in their bellies the boys finished quickly and headed back to the church where they played soccer for a while before it was time for their Saturday church school classes. I was so proud of them. And they were proud of themselves and all of the work they had done. One of my new words this week that I learned in Spanish is "proud" - orgulloso.
Jose is a leader of one of the classes. He said that every boy in his class worked with Tony today - although last week when he asked them to volunteer only two raised their hands. However, today he asked for volunteers to cook for family night on Friday and every single one of them volunteered. Looks like they are learning about how good it feels to serve others!
I had time to talk to Jairo about a few things today. It is always such a blessing to spend time one on one with Jairo. I think that is another reason I feel good today.
After we talked for a while, he dropped me off at 'the point' and I walked home alone for the first time. I stopped at a little vendor that Karla took me to once before and got a banana milkshake served in a plastic bag with a straw. I felt like I'm finally not such a tourist anymore - welcoming people at the airport and wandering the streets on my own. In one of my talks with Jairo he said, "You're one of us." and Evelin joked that the gringos came today, but that I am no longer a gringa.
When I got home Karla took a picture of me with my milkshake in a bag. Then I called my mom, for only the second time since I've been here. We were in the middle of talking when Karla and Jose invited me to a bible study, so we headed back to church.
After the bible study we were invited to dinner to welcome the visiting church members. We gathered at a local home and ate pupusas. Afterward Jairo spoke from the bible about all of the things we have to look forward to during this group's time here. He spoke about the work we will do, the relationships we will build, and the growth that can happen within us. Tony asked me to head up the breakfast program this week. He will be working with the new group that is here doing the construction project before the sun gets too hot. I said I will be happy to do it, and felt honored that he asked.
I am really looking forward to church tomorrow. I am so lucky to have this experience. Evelin asked me today how many weeks I have left here. I told her that I don't want to think about it. I can't imagine not having Karla to talk to everyday. I have gotten used to my pink bedroom with my tiny bed. (Ok - I'll admit that I was complaining today b/c with no dryer all of my pants don't shrink so they are falling off, but seriously, laundry is my biggest worry.) It is going to be very hard to leave. I want to soak up every minute. Karla asked me today if I would consider taking a job here working with underpriveleged kids being adopted into the US. Her friend called to offer her the job, but Karla says she thinks her English is not good enough...
When I got home Karla took a picture of me with my milkshake in a bag. Then I called my mom, for only the second time since I've been here. We were in the middle of talking when Karla and Jose invited me to a bible study, so we headed back to church.
After the bible study we were invited to dinner to welcome the visiting church members. We gathered at a local home and ate pupusas. Afterward Jairo spoke from the bible about all of the things we have to look forward to during this group's time here. He spoke about the work we will do, the relationships we will build, and the growth that can happen within us. Tony asked me to head up the breakfast program this week. He will be working with the new group that is here doing the construction project before the sun gets too hot. I said I will be happy to do it, and felt honored that he asked.
I am really looking forward to church tomorrow. I am so lucky to have this experience. Evelin asked me today how many weeks I have left here. I told her that I don't want to think about it. I can't imagine not having Karla to talk to everyday. I have gotten used to my pink bedroom with my tiny bed. (Ok - I'll admit that I was complaining today b/c with no dryer all of my pants don't shrink so they are falling off, but seriously, laundry is my biggest worry.) It is going to be very hard to leave. I want to soak up every minute. Karla asked me today if I would consider taking a job here working with underpriveleged kids being adopted into the US. Her friend called to offer her the job, but Karla says she thinks her English is not good enough...
