An amazing weekend - part 2

Sunday morning started out with a delicious breakfast and local coffee. I spent some time playing catch with the kids (brought a foam buffalo bills football with me). Then, we got ready to head to our two activities for the morning. First, we walked to the local pine-needle workshop where we got a chance to make ornaments using pine needles, a needle, and thread. The women of Ocotal make some amazing baskets, trays, and other crafts that can take several days. After struggling through a simple round ornament myself, I have tremendous respect for the work they do!

Next, we headed to a local family's house to learn how corn tortillas are made. We went through every step from cleaning the soaked kernels to grinding them and finally cooking the tortillas. They were delicious fresh off the stove with another cup of coffee. I joined the kids of the house to watch "March of the Penguins" on a little black and white tv in the living room. In the mountains, there is no electricity, running water, or plumbing. Some houses have acquired solar panels through the help of Bloomfield Rotary that they charge all day and use on occasion, so it is a real treat for them to watch TV. This particular family has a son that just graduated high school and is one of only 3 students from the community to go on to college. In order to get his high school certificate, he walked down to El Sauce (about 4 hours one way) to take classes twice a week. 

We spent the rest of the day at the Ranchon eating lunch, playing soccer, football, Chinese Checkers, Uno, and any other game we could find, taking a hike up to the mountain peak for breath-taking views of the countryside, listening to an orientation all about the Enlace Project and how they are helping the local communities, and eating dinner. 

This last picture is a spectacular view of two distant volcanoes and Lake Managua. We ended the evening with a bonfire and listening to some of our interpreters/guides playing guitar and singing songs. I got the chance to sit with two young boys who are studying English right now and help them practice all they have been learning. Plus, I got the opportunity to practice lots of my Spanish as well!

Finally, it was off to our host family's house for some more LCR with the kids, some conversation with Bernardo and his son, and of course, a great cup of coffee!

Tomorrow, we will head down to Buena Vista to begin the school construction. After only 2 days, I have fallen in love with this community, the simplicity of life here, the hard-working and friendly people, and the joy they experience every day.