View from Casa Hogar Douglas
Today was a very interesting day. It started out pretty much as usual: “Mountain-gazing” for the early risers - breakfast - quiet time – study groups – marketplace shopping – then we walked to Casa Hogar Douglas. (One of the original children homes) The interesting part of our day was the uncertainty of whether or not we were going to get pounded by “Hurricane Dolly.” It was a typical day of serving / playing with the children, painting, shoveling gravel, concrete work, replacing water heaters, cleaning a cockroach infested kitchen, constructing concrete framing for the roof of a building, varnishing a wood cabinet, etc…etc… The weather threatened / teased us all day long with glimpses of Dolly, but no real affects other then a spontaneous rain shower or some gusty winds.
Relationships were developed today between the children and us that will last a lifetime. It always amazes me how the children cling and just attach themselves to our team, and also how the team loves on them so freely. (Exit Jay – enter Jamie) The kids were very appreciative and excited for us to be spending time with them and to wait for “Dolly” with them. We were one of the last groups to go to Douglas this summer. There is a concrete slide aka the Devil slide in which many poor victims injured the “Bumpys” and messed up some of the gravel being shoveld. Another interseting thing about Douglas is thanks to many donations they have a caged-in soccer field. Many of us fell victim to the mad skills of the kids. The rest of the group that did not want to have their pride left in the cage, colored and played hand games with the kids. I due to my compettiveness was one the many victims. Overall the day at Douglas was my personal favorite day. On the way home a few of us entertained ourselves by shouting the name and color of the cars that drove by us. I was a victim of a suprise attack by Becca. She was holding my drink and waited for me to have my back turned and then she pounced. She poured my drink down the back of my shirt. I was wet the rest of the walk back. Fast forwarding to worship we played a game where music is playing and then when it stops someone shouts two body parts then the partners have to touch those parts (Ex. ::music playing:: People are walking around. ::music stops:: “Elbow to Knee!!!”). After i sufferd a crushing 2nd place finish yesterday. After that defeat i was determined to win. (Exit Jamie – Enter Zach) Jamie and I started out early with competetive speed until the circle of frenzy got down to three (3) couples. The intensity begang to takes its toll. Sweat formeded, hearts raced; the game picked up. Jamie and I were up against the last couple when the announcer said “Toe to nose!!!” I dashed over to Jamie and placed my nose on his toe. Suddenly the crowd lifted into and uproar rejoicing in the fact that Jamie and myself had won (Thanks to our practice at church camp). (Exit Zach – Enter Becca) Today I had the opporunity to play, sing, and talk to a Down’s Syndrome lady. I felt very comfortable with her because of having a Down’s Syndromes uncle. I sang to her and she began singing with me, she had the biggest smile and wouldn’t let go of my hand-it was awsome! That’s all I’m going to say because we have writen a novel here and there is still more to come. (Exit Becca-Enter Abby) OK so today I met the “Devil slide”. This HUGE slide which when extremely wet makes you go so fast you can’t even imagine. While it was raining Eliana and I decided to go down the extremely slippery slide. She went first and ended up with some slight holes in her pants. After she announced her slight pain to the people around the bottom, she told me it didn’t hurt at all. I was a bit apprehensive to go next. As a result I made sure there was at least 4 people surrounding the bottom to catch me. As i started my first few feet, I quickly began to gain speed. As more and more feet when by I became out of control. None of the “Catchers” caught me. In fact, they decided to run away because I was going so fast. Rain was pouring and at the bottom of the slide there was at least five feet of gravel which I slid past and almost off the wall. As a result I now have a very soar “Bumpy” with tons of scratches, holes in my shorts, and bruses all down my backside and arms. This is why this slide has a new name of the Devil Slide. (Exit Abby-enter Jamie and Zach) Hello again. Tommorw, weather permitting we will go hiking with the kids from Douglas.If the weather is not permitting we will probally play with them here or go do something inside. Please pray for some personal issues that are arising while we are typing this blog. With the end of every day we have time to reflect on our experiences and God-happenings which remind us of His never ending love and power. God has done many things in all of us and there is a most certainly a perfect reason for why each and everyone of us are together on this most glory filled trip. We also would like you to pray for the staff members down here, all the children homes and all of the teams that are down here. Thank you. God is good.
p.s. When students take control of the blog, this is what happens.
Spending time with Alondra
