Since Guatemala is mostly Catholic, this week all the kids were out of school for Holy Week. It was another busy week full of activity, outings, and new experiences.
Monday, we all went to a pool together. Everyone from the babies to the oldest teens went with. I expected to go to a regular swimming pool. We went to more than just a pool. There were small carnival rides, a basketball court, walking trails, a lake where you could rent a paddle boat, and little stands set off to the side for shopping and/or eating. We only got to go in the pool, as each different activity had to be paid for separately. It was a blast for all the kids that got to come!
On Tuesday, a few of the houses went outside of the orphanage. I stayed back with the girls houses and took photos, as they constructed and participated in their own obstacle course. They had an eating challenge, a slip n’ slide, a fashion show, bowling, water balloons, and a mud pit. By the end of the afternoon, all spectators were soaked from head to toe!
Wednesday, most of the houses got to participate in an afternoon of activities outside of the orphanage. The kids were split into groups of 10 and each took their turn at each section. Sections included a water game, dodgeball, cornhole, water balloon toss, and basketball. That afternoon wore all of the kids (and voluneets) out!
We took two buses there, one filled with boys, and another filled with girls. I got to ride with the girls’ houses. On the way back to the orphanage, the girls were still full of energy. They were taking turns singing and dancing. So was I! It was kinda fun and exciting to hear a bus full of girls chanting my name wanting me to get up and dance. It was a great way to see each of their personalities come to life.
Thursday wasn’t like the rest of the days. It was… an adventure. I knew there were only outings scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, so I wasn’t sure what was going to happen on Thursday. One of the boys asked me if I was going to the river with the girls. That sounded like fun, and I replied with a quick “Yes”, not really knowing who was going or where the “river” was.
I grab my camera, changed my clothes, and headed to the girls house. There, they asked me if I was going with them to the store down the street. I told them I’d come along, still unsure of what exactly was happening or if there was a river and/or store.
We head out of the orphanage’s front gates and walk all the way down the street, about a half mile, to the shop on the corner. The girls bought 2 or 3 large bottles of soda for their houses, I think they were 3 liter bottles. They just purchased heavy soda bottles, surely they are headed back to the orphanage now, right?
No. We walk a little further and head down an unmarked trail. This trail was dusty, slippery, less than a foot wide, and was downhill most of the way. We walked through trees and shrubs, and managed to make it down to the river. This river wasn’t what I’d picture a river to look like. This was a muddy stream of water, about 2 inches deep at its deepest point and stretched at most 2 feet wide, weaving underneath the trees. Although this river wasn’t worth the cuts and bruises it took to get down there, the adventure and fun with the kids was!
I was fighting to get down and up those hills on the “trail”. At times, I found myself on my knees pulling myself up the wall, using tree roots as handles to get up. The kids were helping me too, as they were carrying their 3 liter bottles of soda through the forest.
Friday and Saturday, we had a group here, just for the afternoons. They repainted the court and planned activities for the kids. Facepainting, coloring pages, crafts, hacky sack, and drama skits for Easter were a few of the things the team provided. Saturday was Easter around Casa Shalom, so the team filled 400 eggs with candy and coins, and spread them all across the property for the kids to collect. I’m sure the hunt was over in about 30 seconds, as all the kids raced across campus as fast as they could.
This upcoming week shouldn’t be as chaotic, as sponsor week is over and the kids are back to a normal school week schedule. I say “shouldn’t” because I never know what to expect around here!
(har)Perseverance on a mission 