Dia de Tres

R dubb here. Another amazing day here in Managua, Nicaragua. Started off the day with a 9AM breakfast at the dining hall. Then we hopped in the bus, and headed over to El Canon where the orphanage is located. We went to church there, which was a pretty amazing experience. Pretty interesting to see how church and God is such a universal language. The whole service was in Spanish, but definitely still engaging. Afterwards, we had some lunch (hot dogs again, dont even think they were cooked), and us boys got a huge soccer game going. It was the college aged Americans vs the 16 and under Nicaraguans. After about two hours, the game finished at 2-2, but I think they dominated us for the most part. After that, we walked back over to the orphanage, and I'm not sure how, but a huge wrestling match between me, Dave, and about 10 Nicaraguan boys started. It was me and Dave against them all. We were just having a great time wrestling in the dirt. You can't underestimate these orphans. Kid you not, a couple of them are no more than a buck 40, but strong as an ox. I got a nice gash on my eye brow after the oldest orphan, Jordan, had a nice takedown on me and I hit a rock. It's a pretty badass battle wound though. After the wrestling, we all got in the bus and went to this huge park area, played some basketball, and more soccer. Then we all went to this fast food chicken place, comparable to KFC, called Tip Top. The people working there didn't know we were coming, so it was zoo in there. About 40 of us JMU students, and another 35 orphans. We definitely cleaned them out. Tomorrow we are going to do some painting, and then go to the market. Pretty excited about that, because I hear everything is cheap. Bed time for this gus. Nite nite clowns. -RW Gus

Alex - Well I just wrote for about 20 minutes and got booted from the internet and lost all that I had written. So, instead of re-stating some of what Ryan said I'll be short about my day. I had a great time with Leyla, the girl we rode the bus to the beach with yesterday. After playing some keep away soccer at the sports complex, she and I rode the bus back together on the way to dinner. She told me she wanted to be a psychologist and translater when she grows up. She is 13 and almost fluent in English and I helped her study for her English test tomorrow. She is doing a good job of helping me with my spanish as well! When we got to dinner Cat and I ate with Leyla and her sisters. She saw Cat drawing in her sketchbook and asked to draw. I left for a bit and when I came back she clearly tried to hide what she was drawing. After she was finished she returned the book to me because Cat wasn't nearby. I had to take a peak, and when I did I saw that she had drawn and colored a heart with my name in the middle! I think she has a crush on me! I took a picture and will probably post it tomorrow or Tuesday. I think I am going to get her some earings from the market tomorrow!

Also, I talked to Maria Jose (the orphanage director at El Canyon) about my friend Angel (who is now 6) that I have seen every year I've come. He and I had a great bond but he has been taken back by his mother. Some orphans are dropped off by their parents at a young age because they are unable to care for them due to their extreme poverty. A new law in Nicaragua is trying to return these "orphans" to their parents. Apparently he and his brothers are now living in a small house made from recycled plastics in a shanti-town about 30 minutes away. Maria Jose said that when he left the orphanage with his mother he was so happy, but when the pastor went to visit the family last week Angel hid and was ashamed because he was so dirty and the house was in such shambles. It really breaks my heart because Angel is so smart and has such an incredible personality. It makes you wonder if this new law is doing any good. Angel had 3 meals a day, an education and a promising future ahead of him at El Canyon, but was lacking the intimacy of a family. Now, he has the family, but does not have the essentials to allow for him to be successful in life. Tomorrow we are going to get his family rice and beans at the market and I plan to get him some toys as well. I really miss him and hate to think of him being ashamed and sad of his new life with his mother and 3 brothers.

That's all for now. Tomorrow we are painting some stuff at the orphanage and going to the market! Ryan dave and I are planning on running around 745 am before breakfast, but we'll see how that turns out!
AT