After breakfast we loaded up the vans with previous sorted school supply donations, and off to the school we went! We arrived later than usual because of a traffic jam that caused the van to be late. Once arriving at the school the construction workers told us (with señora's translating) the days jobs to be done. Soon after learning our duties we went straight to recess. This recess was different because we brought a variety of different toys to play with the kids. We brought fun bubbles, jump rope, and blow up balls. It was when we brought out the bracelets that everything took a turn to the wild side. The kids literally swarmed the people holding the bracelets. Hands were grabbing everywhere and everything. At one point Sister Jenny said, "just drop the bag to save your life". We had over 500 bracelets that were gone in matter of a few minutes. Finally the bell rang and we were back to work. 
The morning work consisted of making and pouring concrete into the trenches that we dug yesterday. Also during the morning many people went to the classrooms. Here we passed out the donated school supplies. The children were overjoyed to received these gifts (notebooks, crayons, and pencils) that are ordinary items that we take for granted at home. The morning classes both consisted of helping the children, first and second grade, with math.
Sharply at 12:00 O'clock we loaded up the vans and headed to lunch! Today lunch consisted of rice, chicken, pasta, and sweet plantains. When everyone was done eating some took a siesta, while others lounged inside the family space and watched the pregame for the World Cup.
We soon were back at the school and started work. In the overbearing sun we took to the shovels and started to move the many dirt piles into a neat and large pile of dirt. This dirt was dug previously out from the trenches yesterday. While the dirt was being moved, others were cleaning out the area by moving the vegetation previously chopped down by sister jenny.
Those who were not digging we're present in the afternoon classrooms. Here they handed out the rest of the school supplies and worked on various craft projects with the older children. Covered in sweat and dirt we finished an hour early (3:00) so that we would have time to go to the grocery store and buy food with previously donated money for families in need. There was a total of 300 dollars donated and so we split up the money and bought enough food to feed 10 families. Some of the items we bought was rice, beans, oil, sugar, flour, coffee, powder milk, bread, soap, toilet paper, etc. After the parade of full gocery carts, us NDA girls had time to buy food with our own money to fix our cravings.
On the way back to the retreat center everyone was enjoying their sweets when all of a sudden we hear fizzing and Moe scream. She ended up opening her pop and it exploding everywhere. Luckily we were almost back and the seat didn't get covered in too much pop, but the pact of "what happens in the van, stays in the van" has now been broken. After washing off a days hard work we were ready to eat dinner despite all the sugar we ate on the way home. Dinner was comprised of rice (yet again), chicken, fried potatoes, and plantain chips, with a fruit drink that had an origional taste of strawberry, but an after taste of lime.
We finished the night with reflection and many intense card games.
Adios amigos, until next time: Camille (Catalina) and Jillian (Julia)
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