La Chureca: Who knew one could become addicted to a trash dump?

I found that my first visit to La Chureca, (please see early entries of my blog for a description of the Chureca) proved to be very emotionally difficult, but now I want to go back weekly. After the initial shock of observing how people live amongst the mounds of garbage, I was eager to put myself back in the place that made me so uncomfortable. If people can live there every day I can surely work their once a week. The children that visit the Los Quinchos building day after day were the magnets who drew me back. I spent five hours last Thursday counting, coloring, and working on the "homework" the children were assigned at school. I was glad to see that some of them were regularly attending the available school nearest to the Chureca.

Walter, the child I have become most attached to, spent over an hour coloring and talking to me about the pictures in the coloring book. It is clear how intelligent he is, and I hope he continues to be the motivated child he appears to be. The Quinchos program instills work ethic, support, and hope for these children that would otherwise have little more than trash to go through and non-supportive families to go home to.

Thanks to the Dentists!

It is amazing what will make a Nicaraguan child smile. Normally new tooth brushes are fun for a minute or two, but the Yahoska girls looked as if it was Christmas when I distributed new tooth brushes that Dr. Obannion and Dr. Stein & Shannon graciously donated. They all carried their new possessions around their property for at least an hour, holding them while laughing and completing their chores. They were all eager to keep the packaging the brushes were wrapped in, but their teachers said that wouldn't be necessary. For many of them it is nice to have a brand new posession.

If a small fraction of the dentists in the United States could donate tooth brushes yearly, there would never be a shortage in Nicaragua. We can all dream. Fire starts with a spark, so thanks again to the dentists who supported Los Quinchos and the Yahoska girls in lighting a spark. You brought smiles to their faces, and from now on their smiles will be brighter!

Las Yahoskas

Every day a smile takes over my face as I approach my volunteer site. The outer walls are decorated with pictures and bright colors, proudly displaying the Yahoska title. The Yahoska property is like a small farm, with two goats, a pig, and a dog and cat. Mango trees scatter the acre sized piece of land and the girls frequently scamper up the tree trunks to throw mangos down to their friends. Daily life includes meals, school (the girls travel to and from the town of San Marcos for school -- either in the back of a pick up truck or by foot), and various activities, including daily chores.


These girls are very well behaved and are constantly running from activity to activity. I'm always amazed when most of them jump up with a smile to go sweep a floor or wash dishes. They hand wash all of their clothes and suffer through their homework when not dancing or running about. Every day is different. I try not to get in the way of their daily routine, but instead entertain the girls that have nothing to do.

Two days ago was Gloria's birthday (Gloria is another Haverford Volunteer). I went to the Yahoska's early so the girls could make birthday cards for her. It is amazing how excited they get over the smallest projects. I whipped out paper and markers, and they immediately squealed with delight. It was the cutest thing watching them make their cards. "What do I say?" "Is this pretty enough?" "Will you help me write my card in English?" were some of the many questions they posed. I was touched when a few of them wrote me cards, explaining how much fun they've had with me and te quiero mucho! I want to take every one of them back with me to Kentucky.