All God’s Children

As predicted, chaos did indeed descend on us this morning as we arrived at La Anunciación. We had the opportunity to meet both the little ones (lower school age) and the older ones (intermediate and middle school age). I never tire of watching them communicate with one another. Language barriers are meaningless to a four-year-old! Our students are forced to use words and gestures as best they can, although they can usually operate under the safe assumption that the little girl wants a piggy-back ride! (I’ve attached some of the most awww-eliciting photos from today.)

So far, we have finished painting all three floors of classrooms and we have prepped the church for another coat. We made an abortive attempt at painting the outside of the school, thwarted by an afternoon rainstorm. Hopefully the productivity will continue tomorrow morning, before we head out for our tour of Santiago in the afternoon.

One of my favorite things about working with teenagers is the things they say when they don’t know you are listening. Here is a small sample from today:

“It’s like a zombie movie.” (In reference to the throngs of screaming 13-year-olds trying to climb through the windows to get at Mike Acosta. No joke.)

“I could eat this every day for the rest of my life!” (In reference to mangu, an unappetizing-looking gloop of unidentified starchy vegetable – that is served with queso frito and is absolutely delicious. I don’t know about every day for the rest of my life, though.)

“I didn’t think this was going to be fun, but it is!” (Indeed, service can be fun!)

To wrap up, I will leave you with a funny mental image: JB Wolcott playing Frisbee with paint can lids, by himself, in the rain. Yes, that actually happened.

Off for another delicious dinner “Chez Lazaro” and then mandatory group fun. Buenos noches mis amigos!