Welcome to Shell!

Last Wednesday three new staff members arrived in town. Erin and I got them settled in their houses, then showed them around town.

The Park  in the center of town

The playground where we sometimes take the kids (it has Astroturf this year. Weird, but really nice!).

The local grocery store that also serves yummy lunches.

The building also sometimes has fresh produce vendors

This building is always fun to walk past

The old orphanage building. It looks so much better after the new owners remodeled the second floor and painted it.

One of the covered play areas where we sometimes take the kids

After showing them around the city, we took the new staff members to the orphanage.

Over the bridge….

…Past the dique (dam)…

…allllll the way up the trail…..

…and we arrived at the house!

We toured the whole property and introduced all of the kids and caregivers. I think that showing people around the orphanage for the first time is one of my favorite parts of our responsibilities this summer. It is neat to see it through their eyes, and introduce them to the kids who will soon steal their hearts.

That night a whole group of us met up and we gave the new staff their first taste of Jhonny’s famous food.

Tablitas aka Jhonny’s

Last Day of School!

Before we left for the beach the kids celebrated their last day of school and took end of year photos. Here are some of the kids we will be working with this summer.

Jonathan and Rosa

Sheyla and Angel

Nila and Gilmar

Nicole and Rubi

Martin and Greis

Wilson and Ana

Javier and Julisa

Alondra and Abigail

Thalia and Rosa

Maria and Maribel

Rosa and Jeny

Edison

Last Day of School, Last Photo!

En la Playa (At the Beach)

by sara

Monday night we arrived home after 4 fun filled and sandy days at the beach and 20 hours round trip on a bus. We were/are exhausted, and so happy to have a hot shower, but we were really glad that we got a chance to be a part of the trip with the kids.

While we were at the beach each child was paired with one adult. Erin had eight year-old Alondra, and I had twelve year-old Abigail. It was a special treat to get to spend so much time one-on-one with our girls and get to spoil them a little along the way.

Since my camera does not play well with sand and water we did not take many pictures while we were playing on the beach, but here are a few photos of our time en la playa (Some of photos were taken by Abigail a budding photographer).

Me and Abigail

Erin and Alondra

Martin

Joel and Gilmar

Our room at the beach house (8 people in 5 beds)

Alondra and Abi on the bunks

Nicole and Ruby in their beach wraps (I bought the cloth in Kenya a few years ago. The kids loved wearing them!)

Ready for the beach! Rubi, Alondra and Nicole.

Nicole loved cleaning…. and wearing Miss Erin’s shoes.         

Greis eating dinner

Beach Hair!

Little Dubi (pink) led the group in a song.

We had a birthday party complete with piñatas!

Ana and Edison with their loot.

Hunting for Crabs - A favorite pastime.

Maria was one of the best at catching the crabs. She did not even mind when they pinched her.

Nicole and Rubi almost ready for swim time

Bonfire and s’mores on the beach

Abi eating her very first s’more

Alondra and Erin getting ready to toast their marshmallows.

Two very happy girls

Three little monkeys….

…and then there were four.

Alondra and Erin were laughing so hard

Abi making her propeller rocket

Abi and I waiting for the rocket races to start.

We played hard and when it was time to head home we spent a lot of time passed out on the bus