Joel Drives the Bus

One of Joel's favorite new jobs - driving 'Bob', the bus. He takes a group of kids to school at 6:45 in the morning and picks up a different group at 6:30 pm. He told me to write that he loves the interaction with the kids and being a part of their daily routine. It's the highlight of his day!

Goodbye Erin and Hayley

These two girls came to the albergue together to serve for 9 months. They both left the Coast Guard Academy to come here. Hayley is now returning to the Coast Guard and Erin is beginning a new adventure, which includes getting married in August.

Erin found her gift teaching English to the madre tutoras, the teacher of our on-campus school and several groups of kids. English is a wonderful way to open the doors of their future, as knowing English increases their chances to study in the University and will help them obtain jobs. Erin also worked with our reading program and helped children advance and fall in love with reading. She spent several tough and rewarding weeks covering a girls' house as a madre tutora and bonded with the kinder class as she stretched their imaginations and creativity.

Hayley is also known here as Rocky Balboa. She inspired the boys and the girls to become stronger and healthier as she instructed P.E. and gave them the Push-Up Challenge. She brought our garden program into reality and had the tough job of explaining hard math and grammar to our four (sometimes unmotivated) high schoolers. She worked in our kinder program early on and the kids learned their numbers and letters, as well as how to walk in a military line. Hayley gave guitar lessons, showed a few kids how to keep rhythm on a drum and sang her heart out.

Erin and Hayley also made the living at the orphanage exciting and entertaining. Morning devotions were full of great discussions, interesting lunch conversations, and nights going into town were unforgettable. Let's just say that we miss them... 'we' includes everyone here at Hogar de Esperanza.

Church Public

In March, we had a college group come and build a playground for us. Four of the students also attend Church Public and decided to stay an extra week with us. Their pastor and another member came to join them, as well. They were amazing to have around. They watched all the kids so that all our workers and volunteers could attend Liz' wedding and nobody missed out! I think it was a little trial by fire, but the kids were safe, had a great time and all ended up in bed (some with their shoes on.) The rest of their week was divided among different tasks - girls'/boys' night, painting our new playground, building a roof for one of our wells, painting walls, helping with kinder (and painting with the kids,) helping in Escueal de Miller and playing soccer. Most of all, they loved on the kids and made us laugh! (good medicine for the soul) The last day they were here was a holiday in Peru and the kids were out of school. It was fun to have our last outing to the beach, as the weather is turning cooler. Joel and I really enjoyed having the group here - they were a blessing and a blast to have around!

I don't have a picture of the whole group as I accidentally deleted all my pictures, but here are a few from our trip to the beach in Salaverry.

Nayeli with crab in hand

Alondra makes a sand angel
Austin and Maria Angelica
Joel and Arnold

Boys' Night / Girls' Night

In March we had a several volunteers staying with us and it was a great opportunity to have some parties! The boys watched Transformers with Tio Joel and enjoyed popcorn and soda. Unfortunately, he didn't take any pictures, but I'm thinking they had a great time! The girls went crazy with hair-do's, make up, manicures, pedicures and in the background we had a movie going. I was in charge of the hair-dos and they all wanted curls! After I finished their hair, we put on a little blush and lip gloss... WOW!
The other volunteers worked on nails and some of the girls helped our volunteers look more beautiful.
We even had a suprise visit from one of the guys... who didn't know what he was getting into!