Hunter, Meagan and I returned to SBV. Hunter (Cazador) spent the morning painting the hallway in the school while Meagan and I were scientists. We started the perc tests and also explored the plot of land next to ours. We hope there is water on that land since the owner has offered to sell it to us. I have no way of knowing but did observe it was much greener and lusher than ours. Surely that means something, right? Can you have that much foliage with no water at all? Say your prayers about that one.
After lunch, we did a little more work and then quit early to play with the kids. We had a contest for the kids to do the playground circuit. Carlos won with a time of 12 seconds to go up the ramp, across the bridge, across the monkey bars, over the bridge, through the tube, and down the slide. Gina, Yonibel, and Dunia were close with 13 seconds. Hunter demonstrated the course in 17 seconds and I was disqualified when I fell off the monkey bars. Well, it wasn't that I fell off, I just couldn't get my entire body back up on the platform. I could get my feet up but that part in the middle wouldn't cooperate.
At about 3:15, we went into Cabin 1 for a little program. The "medianas" (middle girls) did a cute dance for us. Then the middle boys did a great drama about not littering. Elias Hernandez, who has epilepsy and is quite disabled, was adorable trying to participate. The story was that people (played by Yonibel, the other Elias, Joel, Alexander) would just throw trash on the ground. Then Julio would come out and sweep it up, angry that he had to clean up for the others. The boys came back through throwing trash on the ground and Julio would pop out and exhort them, gesticulating wildly, to put the trash in the "basura" (trashcan)... A couple of these scenes were thwarted because Elias Hernandez would swoop in and "help" by putting the trash right in the basura before Julio could counsel the offender. It was so precious.
Next the little bitties got up to sing a couple songs and, true to form, Jocelyn was leading the pack, singing lustily with a huge grin on her face. Most of the others stood stock still staring at us. Not so different from the US!
Finally a couple of the girls got up to say thank you to us for coming, for helping at SBV and for loving them and giving them hugs. Gina, naturally, was one of them. Dunia (11 yrs) then spontaneously asked to give her testamony. Suzy told us later that she had never done that before. Dunia had fallen in love with Meagan, maybe that is what motivated her. Anyway, she told us that she and her siblings, Yessenia and Fernando, had lived in a terrible place in the city. They would roam the streets and no one looked after them. One day, their uncle "did something bad to them." Soon after, they met Suzy and came to live at Casa Hogar (SBV.) She is so happy to be there. "I have everything I need now. I have food, clothes, school, and people who love her." Dunia is so very dear. My heart breaks to think of how she had to live before SBV and my heart is filled with joy knowing that she is safe, happy, healthy, and loved now. Thanks be to God for all the wonderful people who care for those dear lambs.
On the way home we stopped by Suzy's house to see Aaron Joshue who wasn't there last Sunday. He really buzzes around on the tiniest wheelchair known to man. Tomasa gave him a buzz so he looks more grown up (at 22 months) than he did with longer hair. I must confess, I miss his full head of hair. Cesia looked beautiful as usual and Evelyn motored around in her little walker, despite being sick.
Tonight we went into Teguci to a really nice restaurant called El Patio. The food was plenteous and delicious. They loaded us up with appetizers - my favorite being the fried plantain. YUM. Then we all had "pinchos" or shish kebabs that were enormous. It was really fun - full of local color. They had this display as we entered of a man behind a plow pulled by two bulls. They were almost life size and made out of some natural material - kinda like the corn husks used for tamales. Meagan almost knocked the tail off of one! See the picture of her with one and notice how anatomically correct it is!
Tomorrow is the bi-monthly visiting day for the children. They are all bused into Flor to see their birth parents - if they show up. We are all going to Flor tomorrow to be a part of it. It is particularly important to us because several children, including Dunia and Elias Hernandez, never have anyone come to see them. Tomorrow, we will be their visitors.
I absolutely hate that tomorrow is our last day here. We were about to get stranded here indefinitely. We woke up to the news that the meteorologists were on strike and all the airports were closed. Officially I was very concerned and working with Suzy and David to come up with Plan B (bus to El Salvador, flight home) but inwardly I was jumping for joy. Sadly, oops I mean happily, the airports reopened this afternoon.
Sleep well... We will after our huge meal!
