Thursday in the Dump

The retreat center has a new router and we have the ability to post again.

Today began much like yesterday. Our morning started with a simple morning prayer in the chapel followed by a great breakfast. By 8:00 am we were on the road to pick up our guards and then to the school. Those spending the morning in the classrooms in the Francisco Coll school were dropped off with a guard. Then the rest of us headed to the nursery where we were deposited with a guard.

As each of us are in a different aged classrooms, our days vary from helping with English lessons to correcting multiplication problems to learning what words begin with the letter M. Those in the nursery often get the added workout of helping the children across the monkey bars or being the center of a game that is either tag or chase the volunteer.

Unsurprisingly, lunch is usually looked forward to by us all. However today we had a challenge issued to us by the school - a soccer match. Thus, despite some rumbling stomaches, we headed to the dirt and stone covered area the school uses for the soccer practices. As they have won tournaments and neither of our past two groups could claim a victory, we were prepared for a tough game.

Our van driver (in the white shirt) found some practical clothes
and took on the role of referee.

As we were prepared for the worst, it turned into an exciting match with a shootout win at the end in our favor.

Next was a well deserved lunch break (with plenty of water). We only worked on the roof and new doorway for about an hour as we were scheduled to meet at 3:00 pm with the Paso y Paso program.

Paso y Paso is a program for those in the high school age range. It is academics and career formation. They also assist with many of the challenges the youth face - medically, psychologically, and academically. We heard just two stories and they were heart-wrenching.  Extreme violence from alcohol abuse and gangs. Economic conditions that are unimaginable. Loss of loved ones that just add to the pain.

Yet these teens, just the same age as our participants, are working so hard to reshape their lives from the very core of their beings. Through classes, medical and psychological care, and the countless other efforts of Paso y Paso, they are able to step into careers that will help move them to a more secure place in the world.

As that presentation took an hour, it was time for us to enjoy the rush hour traffic on the drive home. Everyone enjoyed the chance to clean up as dust from the construction and general state of the district kept us feeling quite dry and dirty.

Dinner smells great. After that is evening prayer followed by a rehearsal. We have to do a little act for the good-bye assembly tomorrow. We are going to do a little flash mob type dance. And we really do need some more practice.

~Jennifer