Friday

Today was Dia de Amor – Day of Love, more commonly known to us as Valentine’s Day. Everywhere we walked there were street vendors with little carts full of roses, sunflowers, lilies, and other flowers. The kids at ANIJA school were all decked out in red and pink. Many of the little girls wore frilly dresses and tiny high heeled shoes. Since so much love was in the air, we took the opportunity to do some lessons with the kids about the greatest love of all – God’s love! In one class when Chris R addressed the class and began by saying Buenos Dias (good morning) the entire class of kindergarten students, as if on command, promptly stood to their feet and in unison chanted Buenos Dias back to Chris. The kids have been taught to stand in respect when addressed by an adult!

The kids enjoyed decorating paper hearts and making fruit loop necklaces. Many kids used the method of string one fruit loop then eat one fruit loop as they worked on their project!

                                                           (Isn’t this little girl a beauty?!?!)

 

 

                                 (One of the kindergarten classes working on decorating their hearts.)

                        (Keith helping some of the preschool kids make their fruit loop necklaces.)

In the afternoon we got to take the kids that were receiving gifts from their sponsors to the chapel for an art lesson before handing out their gifts. The kids were called to the front one by one to get their gift and every time the gift was handed to them the other kids chanted in Spanish “That’s so cool!”.  

Those of us on the team that have sponsored children at ANIJA got to take their kids down the street to Bon for ice cream. The unanimous favorite flavor was chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate!

 

 

 

    (Chris R and Rachel with Estefania, Dahiyanna, Angelica, and Arlin, enjoying some ice cream at  Bon.)

 Next, we loaded up the van and went to have lunch and play with the kids at the Ark for the final time this trip. Again, we were served beans and rice with chicken. When we asked we found out that for breakfast the kids eat a d of bread and chocolate milk for breakfast every day They are home from school by 12:30p to eat lunch which is always beans and rice. Sometime there is chicken, pork or beef in it. Sometimes it may have broccoli or teyote (a local starchy vegetable) in it, but it is always beans and rice. Then in the evenings the kids are served another piece of bread and chocolate milk before bed. The menu very rarely changes!

                              (Lucas and Franklin having some fun during play time at the Ark.)

                                            (Randy and Genesis hanging out at the Ark.)

(Soccer practice takes place every day at the Ark.)

After we said our goodbyes to the little friends we made this week we went back to the team house for dinner, packing, and preparing to leave in the morning for our day at the beach. Some of the packing was done by candlelight since the power went out for the second time of the day. We made one last hike up the hill to hang out at Pizza Pepperoni before calling it a night. We will enjoy one day at the beach to unwind and process our experiences from the week together and will then get up early and head to the airport to begin the trip home!