Day 3

Today we were able to sleep in until 7:30 because of the World Cup however some of us woke up at 5:30 to catch the game. Once awake and dressed we headed over to the restaurant near the hotel to eat breakfast and pack our lunches. Kevin arrived a little after 9 and our day at ProNiño began. We divided into our families and each received different tasks. Some were gardening while others were mixing cement. While the rest of the group continued with these tasks we along with Leslie and Caroline went to fetch water at the market. For this we were rewarded with delicious fruit juices. While ordering our juices we bumped into Mark H, Riley, Dyson and Brant who had been picking up metal pipes to build soccer goals. By the time we returned back to ProNiño, everyone was ready for some lunch. We sat in the shade and enjoyed our peanut butter sandwiches. After a quick bite to eat and siesta once again we were divided up and sent to different places. We went to La Montaña with Mark H. and Colscon, with Mr. Saine driving a truckload of 10 kids and loads of lumber. Quite honestly, we did not think we were going to make it to the top of the mountain with all the weight we were carrying. Luckily, Mr. Saine’s wonderful driving skills got us there safely. When we got there we unloaded the wood and watched the crafty boys prepare it for the building of the divider walls. While they were finishing up, we got a more detailed tour of the campus. Meanwhile another group had the opportunity to go to the Nutrition Center and then the Orphanage to see the children. Those who went had a great experience, they said it was amazing seeing the before and after pictures. They now appear so much healthier after spending time in those centers. The third group stayed at ProNiño. They got to spend the afternoon talking and playing with the boys. The simplest games bring them so much enjoyment. Caroline and Óscar were able to create a game using only a glove that remained fun for a lot of time. These simple games are easy to create yet provide lots of laughs and bonding between the boys and us. A little after 4:00 our workday finished, each of us having a different yet equally enriching day. We all met back at the hotel and got ready for dinner. We then headed off to Mr. Taco were we enjoyed chicken and steak tacos. After dinner we headed back to the hotel for our final gathering of the day. We had a chance to add to our journals and have a deeper time to reflect on each of our adventures of the day. We wrapped up our chat and headed to our rooms for bed.

Annie and Walker

For more pictures from day 3 click HERE