Thursday, June 10- Our Wednesday in Amistad

Today started with a freezing cold shower for John, Devin, and Luke. After a breakfast we got on the bus with our guide Ximena and went to la villa for our first day of serious work.

We joined the students and staff of the Villa for Morning Reflection in the chapel. We entered to the sound of joyful and loud singing with a rhythmic drum beat. Four children and one adult made up the official choir. Two boys sitting just a few feet from us sang their hearts out and one young boy kept the beat on his drum. Two young girls led the worship, Barbara and Felicidad. Even though our CCC group had no idea what they were saying and singing, their open and robust worship moved us all. We stood in front of the altar at the end and introduced ourselves, saying our names and why we came to Amistad, with Chris translating, of course. That was a bit hard for some of us, but the smiles and then the ensuing applause from the friends in the chairs made us feel right at home.

Once at La Villa, we started painting the walls of Kantuta House, Luke wasn’t that good. We returned to La Morada for lunch, which was delicious pumpkin soup followed by chicken and rice. Back at La Villa, we put a second layer of paint on the wall with the help of many children who delighted in either working with the paint and with us-- Sylvia, Johnny, Noamina, Felicidad, Delina and Leonardo.

John was given the job of painting the high bricks, giving rise to several jokes about John falling and breaking his neck (or those of people below him).After we finished painting the walls we went to play dodge ball with the children. Wilson sacrificed himself for John throughout the game and got hit in the head several times. Unfortunately, we had to leave for dinner before the game finished. We are now at La Morada playing games.

Enjoy the pictures! We´ll have more to share when we get back.

Adios,

The youth and their chaperones