Costa Rica: Day Four

Today was the first day on our working schedule. We woke up early and caught two different buses to get to Bebitos.

The buses aren't so bad, it's unpredictable when they will come and they are very hard to balance on if every seat is taken, but for me it's like a roller coaster ride and I like it. Maybe I'll try a real roller coaster once I'm home.

This morning the kids immediately clung to me and Kylee they sat in our laps. The older ones were loving taking pictures with my camera. We all sang songs together, mostly the teacher led Spanish songs. Then she asked us to lead some, so we did head shoulders knees and toes, do as I'm doing and if you're happy and you know it clap your hands. It was kinda just a big fail, we forgot the third verse to if you're happy and you know it, so we just ended after that. The kids ate it up though. Tomorrow we will try the wheels on the bus and maybe some primary songs. They ate a snack and then went to their outdoor-indoor playground. I just love how the kids cling to us even though we can't really communicate. It is the language of love and happiness.

There is a swimming facility next door to Bebitos, so we walked eight of them over to swim lessons. They were so cute in the water and kept waving "hola" to us up above.

After swimming we changed them back and fed the babies lunch. There were three teachers today and then me and Kylee. The teachers do an amazing job of keeping these kids well-behaved, but also showing them they are loved. I am very impressed at the respect of these kids.

After Bebitos, we went to our school- Maximo and ate. We then went shopping in the outdoor markets. We are very excited to take our money back to get Costa Rica souvenirs there. :)

We talked to another woman at Maximo who is here to teach English. She went to her site yesterday and left bawling. It is a school up in the mountains. The bus takes a whole to get there. These kids have no homes, they only are fed (as much as they want) once a week. Once a week there is a soup kitchen day and they can have more than a small portion. They have no tables or chairs, they don't have bed or houses. This woman was so sad!!! And on her way to buy tables and chairs and school supplies. Our school doesn't require a lot, but all the help we can offer as volunteers is shaping the lives of each kid. The schools that do not have anything also benefit from our donations and program fees. I'm so grateful to be here and help people so much less fortunate than I am. And also am again so thankful for the people who helped get me here!!! Your contribution is so beneficial to these kids and families. And also, to my own perspective on life.

Pura vida, life is amazing. Even with as little as some of these people have, they are grateful. It is a lesson of humility.

It's rains in the afternoons here because it is their winter. That's not stopping us today though...
We rode the bus past our house and explored yet another grocery store (still no sopa de tortilla mom). Then walked a beautiful walk home!!!

There are so many houses packed into one area and they are very small. But around all of it there is so much green. I love the palm trees and plants. Almost all the houses have gates. We live in a nice small home and in such a pretty area.