and a bag of chips!
Yesterday we were introduced to Novahu's sister who was interested in getting a little snack shop set up by the new water system and today when we arrived at the school low and behold there she was!
It's hard to know at this point what the bigger draw is for this community;
clean water or chips and condoms. :)
Regardless, I was her first customer...
It just so happened that there was a group of men cleaning out the sewers
in the street right there who looked like they would appreciate a bag of chips.
So for less than one dollar I was able to provide them with a morning snack
as well as jump start this budding entrepreneur.
They'll be on their own with the condoms though.
This transaction was followed by a woman coming to buy water;
I think this will end up being a nice arrangement for all.
The last of the ribbon cutting ceremonies was the next line of business; this one was for the computer lab. It was named in honor of Bill Tybring for all his work in setting it up and keeping it running.
The children are thrilled to have additional computers to work on!
Our afternoon was filled with great joy, as today was the day my gals
treated everyone to an outing. In the past we've gone for a swim in the ocean so we thought we'd try something new; a bus was rented to carry all the hostel children plus some family members and we headed off to the Mangrove Forest for a hike and boat ride.
The swampy forest had a rickety wooden bridge that weaved through it, which often times was questionable as to if it would hold us all, but the kids absolutely loved it!
We then went on a little boat ride on a river that connected the fresh water inland to the Bay of Bengal. We all enjoyed seeing the variety of birds along the shoreline as well as monkeys playing about.
The bus ride to the restaurant followed and everyone was pretty tired.
One child fell asleep on my lap and the other little girl sitting next to me
snuggled up and told be about how her father died when he was hit by a bus.
After searching for words to say back to her, she then added
"thank you for saving my brother and me by letting us stay at the hostel".
I simply pulled her in a little closer and we silently wept together.
At the restaurant, the kids were very excited at the choice of a burger or pizza; however don't think for one moment that it would be what you're used to; however they were happy and that's what it was all about!!!!
50 plus meals were purchased for approx $130.
Time spent with the kids...priceless!!
For today, choose kindness.
Namaste'
~Jenny
