Friday, last day????
Really should start with Thursday pm and the rotary club meeting in the city, lots of nice Rotarians, lots of great hospitality, connections in the present and for the future. they were all delighted to have us and delighted with the gift of a Red Sox shirt presented by Ethan.  To their  President who himself presented each of us with a certificate. The  chief's got lost in the shuffle.  So we all owe him one.

Today ...
The guys worked like crazy to get the playground structure finished. Tomorrow they may finish. Or else our friend Marcos who has been helping since day one will complete it the day after we leave. But really, Ethan, Gill, chief and. Bruno have built a glorious memento of our visit that the kids will enjoy for decades.

Those of us who worked in the classroom continue to be challenged by the language, the different levels that the kids present and touched by their warmth, resilience, and experiences that they bring to the table every day. They are truly amazing and wonderful and so many of them have no family whatsoever except for El Hogar. El Hogar has picked them up off the streets living in deplorable conditions and provided them with a home and the hope and knowledge that they do have a family, that God loves them and they have a future.  They are so happy to have us we cannot walk through the quad without being hugged, touched, high fived and treated with many, many, smiles. It is a spiritual experience that touches all of our hearts each and every day!

But more of today...
A long ride in the van through the hilly sometimes pastoral, sometimes so full of abject poverty it breaks your heart.  Lunch in an outdoor restaurant without rice and beans for the first time and a quick stop in a little safe town to pick up a few souvenirs for all to enjoy. Then more work,work, work on the structure til we were stopped by the dark. more tortillas and beans for those of us who ate.  We can't believe we leave tomorrow and while many of us are anxious to see our families we are saddened to leave the kids who have become our El Hogar family. Leaving is Bittersweet for all.

Neal