Friday, April 15th

     Well today and everyday so far has started out the same...we snooze our alarm for aerobics at 4:25, 4:40, and 4:45 and wake up at 6 AM to get ready for breakfast. The rest of the day was quite different because the kids did not have school today. After breakfast we helped Mrs. Mary mop the kitchen. Then we went outside and raked the leaves and put it in the wheelbarrow. After we raked we helped the kids with their laundry by hanging it up on the clotheslines. Once their chores were done we played with the kids outside for a long time. We played lots of basketball, soccer, did the monkey bars, played tag, etc. Throughout the day we helped Moses, one of the handymen, rebuild the bridge that leads to the kitchen. The bridge rails were made out of wood and instead we created a cement rail that we are going to paint next week. We made cement by gathering a bunch of rocks and sand putting them in a pile and then added water and it made concrete. Honestly, I was amazed. Once the wood was nailed to the posts we poured the cement into it to insure that it would create a perfect rectangle railing. We then used a triangular tool to put more cement into it with water and smoothed it all out. On Monday when it dries, we will take off the wood and the cement will be dried. I can't wait to see how the bridge turns out once we finish it!
       After we did a good bit of work we went with one of the 16 year old boys to the store close by and bought a couple of snacks with him. While Devyn was buying this gross rice juice she likes at the deli, Jaden and I were talking about life. He said he wants to be an Engineer and said he doesn't want to live here when he gets older. He also said that his cousins live in the city and are involved in gangs, but he promised himself he would never be in one. Once we arrived back at Liberty, we sat by the basketball court and talked to CJ who is another handyman and Mrs. Gurla's son, the lady who works in the office. Until dinner we talked to them, played basketball, and smoothed the bridge railings. When dinner time came we helped set up for dinner, ate with the kids, and then played with them after dinner. Again I played basketball and talked to the kids. When it was time for them to go to bed, I read to the little girls and the ones a little bit older read to me. I said goodnight and headed back to my room knowing I now have 10000 new bug bites even with layers of bug spray on. I am really starting to get attached to the kids and everyday I get closer and closer with each of them. I am really excited for tomorrow because we are traveling with Wafi and his wife to a beautiful island called San Pedro. I am also excited to take pictures because we have not been able to take many while we have been here since we are not allowed to take any of the kids. I am not going to take my computer because we take a water taxi, but I will be back to blog on Monday!