the community of Elsa.

So i have to introduce you to a new love in my life ... the broader community of Elsa, more specifically the area of Los Naranjos. You grab the urbano 18 number 1 labeled ELSA B. from Primavera 1. The bus takes you past AJS, down the main road. As your bus rolls over the dirt road, you pass some stores, a park, some houses. Most of the houses are cane houses, some standing on the ground and others built up to a second story. Dogs run in the street, kids play soccer in front of their house. You pass the Liceo, where the Brothers open up the school on Saturdays for playtime and a chat about good values. At the end of the line, you get to my new favorite hangout -- the house of Alex, next door the house of Nelson, Dayana and Daniela, and in front the house of Emmanuel, Gloria and Angel. These 7 kids come to Valdivia, and although they are crazy, Tasha and I love them dearly. Things at home aren´t always easy -- a lack of secure jobs / income, domestic violence and tight living quarters makes Valdivia a very important safe space for these kids. They are so hospitable, always greeting with a big hug, offering what they can. Last Saturday we crossed two TINY bridges made of just two cane sticks each. We arrived at this huge soccer field, where we made ´´little angels´´ (snow angels minus the snow plus dirt), played soccer, chatted about english, etc. Started with just these 7 but then brothers, sisters, cousins and friends came, how FUN :) Life is hectic and crazy but so live-giving and energetic there, definitely where I want to invest more of my time the next few months!

ps -- hope everyone at HOBY is having fun this month! missing you all so much!

pps -- get home august 12 and cant wait to see you people! feeling really bittersweet about leaving, itll be hard to say goodbye and keep in touch, but great to reconnect with all of you and get back to US culture a bit. ill be at home in baltimore in august, helping out with the hispanic ministry at my church, and probs volunteering in other capacities / visiting people! yay!!

ppps -- thank you for the continued support this year. your prayers, emails, messages are really encouraging, and in this bittersweet time, i surely need it more than ever. you are all continually in my thoughts and prayers!