Audrey and friend |
Eagle's Nest is also the site for a feeding program that feeds children from the community. Three times a week, over 60 kids are served a hot and nourishing meal. I did the same devotional there and then our team served them lunch. Many of these kids would come to our camp, so we hung out with them and then walked them over.
Ymera |
But everything was building to camp! We didn't know how many kids were coming, but we were prepared for about 100. The camp was designed for ages 4-16, but Pedro suggested that many of the "mamas" from the orphanage might like to participate, so some of our team volunteered to watch the babies, so these women in their late teens and twenties could have some fun. About 90 kids arrived and were divided into 3 age groups, which would rotate through volleyball, soccer and art. It was a wonderful turnout albeit very chaotic!! My team had the younger kids, which ended up including many 2 and 3-year olds, whose older siblings had brought them. Trying to engage them in organized activites was like herding cats! Probably the highlight for them was throwing a beach ball on the volleyball court. There was one little deaf girl named Estella who was very unengaged. . . until we started throwing the beachball. The best part of my day was seeing her face light up and hearing her giggle as she ran after that ball. We also had 3 siblings that absolutely captured my heart: Rudy (2), Ymera (3) and Marvin (8). I learned
"Spiderman" |
afterwards that they had recently been removed from their parents' home, because both parents were alcoholics. Marvin had an impish smile and would hurl himself at me like a human torpedo! But thanks to Josh and Caleb I understand this type of energy! I kept calling him my friend and telling him how much I like him and how nice he was. . . and that he was "muy loco"! Ymera has a very flat affect, but when she smiles you feel like you've won the lottery! And Rudy is the energizer bunny until he sits still and the he can fall asleep sitting up. . . or sprawled on the concrete floor like yesterday. We could tell you a bunch of stories, but suffice it to say these kids have captured our hearts.
Today our team had a fun outing. Half of us went ziplining (Mark, Audrey, Caleb and Josh included); and the other half took a boat ride across Lake Atitalan (Evan, Graciela and me). We all had a great time, but those of us on the boatride were subjected to Guatemalan vendors at their worst! They met us at the dock, thrust their items into our faces, begged us to buy. When I said "mas tarde" (later), one woman said, "My name is Michelle. Your remember me and buy from me." Michelle proceeded to follow our group all the way up a street of vendors. When I bought a trinket from a 3-year-old, she and a horde of other Guatemalans pounced on me. They followed us into an ice cream store and they followed us all the way back to the boat, saying things like, "You said you would buy from me. You lie. It's not good to lie;" "Please buy from me. I need food." "Give me money and I will leave you alone." To say it was awful is an understatement! We couldn't wait to get on the boat. . . and even then they were thrusting things in our faces, begging us to buy. I hate pressure sales! But it felt awful not to help needy people.
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