LAST DAY

Hello all - So hard to believe that this was our last full day here at Casa Bernabe. It was our last chance to do the things we wanted to do and needed to finish. The projects we wanted to complete were the drywalling of the new addition onto one of the casas, to complete one erosion barrier and patch up another old one, and to finish filling with dirt the new garden terraces that our every energetic Tony (all around maintenance visionary of Casa Bernabe) had created. And these things we DID accomplish. Sometimes the work didn't seem all that enjoyable, but the students were able to stick with it and accomplish much.

And of course, those who wanted had invested a good chunk of their time with the children tried to squeeze in as much time as they could. A group of students, along with a chaperone here and there, takes shifts either in the infant house or the toddler house. In the morning, they help get the kids up and dressed, or cleaned and bathed if necessary. In the afternoon, it's helping with lunch, spending time and playing with them. During the early evening, it's helping with supper, and then bath-time. This evening, one young girl, Rosa, turned 6 years old. She was so proud that it was her cumpleanos/birthday - she told everyone. She was led out for a walk while the rest of us put up decorations. When she returned, everyone, all the toddlers included, shouted: SUPRESA! Domino's pizza, watching the incredibles, and playing incessant "CABALLO" (horse) kept the party going for a while, especially when they got hold of all the balloons we blew up for them to play with.

In addition, bathtime in the toddler house was a blast! Austin, Luke, and Pastor Rick helped bathe all the boys. Imagine 10 little boys, all naked, standing in the flat-bottomed bath tub. One or two keeps pushing some of the others around and playing horse with each other (climbing on the other's back while the other is on all fours). Another keeps messing around with the temperature by constantly readjusting the knobs. A few want their water "mas caliente" - more warm/hot, but others want the water cold, and then stand under the stream, with arms up saying: "fuerte" - "strong!, as a sign they can endure the colder water. Finally, once they're all watered down, it's shampoo, and then body wash on a loofa sponge (pouffey thing - didn't know what to call it), and soaping them all down all at once. Unfortunately that makes them all the more slippery and they slide all over the place and each other as well. So we quickly try to rinse them off, keep the shampoo and soap out of their eyes, and then one by one, grab them in a towel, dry them off, and get them in their room while we help them put on their underwear and pajamas. It is an adventuresome exercise in patience and excitement, during which we can't help but laugh at the fun because everything they do is a big game! Some of our girls did the same with the little girls, though they seemed to get done more quickly and efficiently without the frenetic frenzy. Hmmm, I wonder why? In any case, what a way to end our time with them. Tucking them in was fun, yet sad. Tears flowed as farewells were said. Truly some special connections had been made during the week.

After supper, we spent time outside together around a campfire. Our devotions for the week have been based on Philippians 2:1-11, and tonight we focused on Good Friday (which Central America calls "Viernes Santa" - Holy Friday) and how Christ was obedient to death on a cross. After a series of scriptures and songs and devotions, we spent time remembering, sharing, and praying. It was a very nice time connecting with God and with each other.

Tonight we did some preparations for our departure. Tomorrow morning we'll finish it up.

Time for bed - I'll try to post some pics later. Good night.