Well I started slacking with the updates sorry. Two weeks ago we went to Batey Madre. The people there were so appreciative for the camp we put on. We usually only go out for a day or two when we do camp there but this time we spent the whole week. They loved it. It's amazing how eager they were to learn. Mothers who were 15 and 16 years old brought their infants with them so they could participate. I'm still trying to get used to the fact that some of these girls have children. They love learning though so hopefully there was a spark placed in them last week.
This past week we went to Manzanillo which is where Orphanage Outreach first began. OO is trying to do more outreach there. The kids were so excited. The bus pulled up and they run towards it chanting their team names for the week. It's such an awesome feeling to see their faces lit up. I really started thinking about all kinds of ways to reach out to the community there. So many ideas...
On a different note I got to spend some extra time with some great boys this week. Yesterday Steph and I got up super early to run with some of the boys who live here. I've learned here that I am not a morning person. We walked over to the orphanage a little before 6 and waited for them to come out. Slowly they came out one by one. First came Edwin (14ish)- who randomly walked around the field for a little while, then Jochi (16) and Kristopher (17ish) who chatted with us for a little bit. Jose Luis (13) came out next with his bright smile that could turn anyone's bad day right around. He is such an amazing kid. Marcos (16) soon followed after. Then finally out came Argenis (15ish) Kelvin (17), Leonel (19), and Eliezer. By this time I laid down on the patio and was practically back to sleep. We made our way to the gate and the boys started their stretching routine which was quite entertaining. We then realized Leonel didn't make it to the gate so we waited for him for a little bit. He had forgotten his water bottle (he's gonna need that later). So we start down the rocky road and within 10 minutes needed to stop. Leonel and I walked for a bit while the others ran ahead. I got to chat with him for a little bit about what he wants to do with his life. He then thought it would be a good idea to take some random road that was supposed to put us ahead of the rest of the group...didn't happen. Not much of a short cut. So we run to the end of the street and then stop for a bit again because his back started cramping. He needed his water but forgot he handed it off to Eliezer to hold for him. Woops. So we walk for a while and then see Marcos who had quit running. We caught up to him and then Odalis (18) comes out of nowhere and is practically sprinting to catch up with the rest of the group. Apparently he was really late so they left him. Leonel decided he wanted to sit at the benches and wait for everyone to come so Marcos and I walked to the bridge to meet up with everyone else. Marcos and I haven't really spent much time together. I tried to talk to him using the Spanish I know but we didn't get very far. I felt like he had a lot of stuff he was holding in. When I'm in these situations with the kids I usually try to talk to them about their future. He didn't really have much he wanted to share so we moved into hobbies. I couldn't make this kid crack for anything. Finally we met up with the rest of the group and Eliezer went to take Leonel his water. I think Marcos was relieved to have his other buddies back. I really want to get to know him though. I've kind of neglected that because the other kids were so much easier to break into. He's a bit deeper. We waited on the bridge for just a bit longer to watch the sunrise. GORGEOUS!! And then we headed back to meet Leonel in Eliezer. The thing I love about these boys most is that they are such a reminder of my brothers just in a different culture. Randomly Jochi, Kelvin and Kristopher stopped and started climbing trees to get grapes, Jose Luis decided to go running for the ocean and jump in, and the rest of them looked at the others as if they were all crazy. Overall it was a good morning. Best of all, Marcos gave me a nickname. The nickname is bamba which means peanut butter BUT here nicknames are a big deal. I broke down a wall with him and I will continue to try for the remainder of my time here.
=)
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