We have arrived, and are in our first full day!

The flights were a little behind, but uneventful.  We got

through immigration and customs, and were met by Yony,

director of the Agricultural school, and by Raul, who works

with volunteers.  We changed money (getting a much better

rate than we could have in White Plains), and were off, through

a traffic jam, to El Hogar, the residential grade school.

 

It is like an oasis in the city.  Our group had a simple lunch, and

then toured that facility.  We got to meet Michael, who is sponsored

by Carribean Ministries.  He seemed delighted to meet us, is very

personable, and as a result our group has decided he needs to come

home with them!

 

We also had a chance to talk with Claudia Castro, who told us of some

of the background of these children.  She has many moving stories.

 

It is a drive of a little over an hour to the Agricultural School Home of

Love and Hope.  Once we left the city, the countryside becomes very

beautiful.  The school is in the country, and we are staying in a cute but

basic house on the grounds.  We were introduced to the students, and then

had a dinner of beans, tortillas and platanas.   

 

After dinner Yony, the director, talked with us for a little while.   Most of

us were exhausted by then, so bedtime was kind of early.  Before than, though,

we went outside and looked at more stars than many of us had ever seen

before.  It was a beautiful night!

 

Breakfast this morning (Beans, tortillas and coffee) was at 5:30.

 

Afterward two of the students have us a tour of the farm.  We got to see,

among many other things, a calf born a few hours earlier, lots of newborn piglets,

and there not so cute parents, acres of corn, 500 chickens, rice, and coffee.

 

We were working on two projects.  One is digging the foundation for a wall that will

provide a room for three more students.  The other is helping to build a wall to expand

the slaughterhouse.  We also plan to help put a new roof on one of the places

they raise chickens.

This afternoon we are looking forward to learning to milk a cow.

 

Please keep us all in your prayers.  We are in a beautiful and peaceful place,

and the group is wonderful!