Middletown UMC in Costa Rica - DAY 5 (Fri, 06/10/2011)
Finally got out of bed quick enough to scrounge up the last of the eggs. By this time everyone pretty much knows the drill. We were on the bus and on a roll before too long and arrived at the church (La Ascencion) soon after that. I got to ride shotgun for the bus driver (no not literally) today. I like that seat; it's like watching the drive in the theater instead of watching it on a little airplane headrest TV.
Now the front seat is not for the nervous backseat driver type; Costa Ricans are just about the most wild drivers I have ever seen. I bet they could win on any racing game in any arcade. They have insane skills, if only they would follow the rules....if only there were rules to follow.
After waiting 15 minutes or so for Padre (we are getting good at this Costa Rican time thing) the water team jumped off the bus and got to work finishing the plumbing and assembling pachingas (clear plastic water carriers). Riding shotgun again, I finally got up the boldness to start a conversation with the bus driver, Javier, that consisted of "Where are you from?" and "do you have any family here or there?". He has two children, one of them is two months old, I think. Maybe tomorrow I will get up the nerve to ask him some more questions.
This intense exposition of my amazing [non-existent]Spanish skills was all on the ride to Hogar Escuela Episcopal, a feeding center and daycare that cares for children coming from abusive homes or ones in which they are simply neglected because of lack of resources and sometimes responsibility. This very large facility was just crawling with little children that love to loved. They had so much fun even just looking at us, hugging us, tugging on our pant legs, showing off their English skills.
They are just as ornery and creative as American Kindergarteners too, as one little boy tried to dupe me into thinking he was "el Hombre Araña" [translated: Spider Man]. Nice try little dude; but you didn't even have a mask!
Anyway, the munchkins loved watching the germs drop like flies. One youth chose pure water to wash and cook with in the Germ Skit, listening to Mrs. Soap and Mr. Water talk about the importance of washing hands with "Agua Pura", and interacting with Bwbw the Catepillar helping him make healthy eating choices. The children may not have been paying attention 100% of the time, but Sandra, the director of the organization assured the Middletown team, "estan cambiando vidas." You are changing lives.
Day 5 afternoon will come later.
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