We have learned from trips like this that we always need to be flexible and be able to adjust - changes in timetables and unforeseen circumstances.   This is one of those days! We were prepared to head into the primary campus in Tegucigalpa when we were told that due to a protest taking place on the highway, that the road from Tegucigalpa to here in Amarateca is closed.  It also means that the bus that brings the high school kids and the teachers had been stuck in traffic for 3 hours and eventually turned around and went back.  So it means that the 40 kids that are here  as part of the residence program are without teachers or structure.  We kind of likened it to a Canadian "snow day"!  It is amazing though, that when we brought out the soccer balls and the Frisbees, that the kids come out of the woodwork and Daniel seemed to be out there for hours with the soccer ball and the kids.  Bringing a few games out also brought out the kids who love Chinese Checkers and UNO.  It has given some down time for us to get caught up on a few things and the donations of soap and dental stuff has been repacked and ready to go to where it goes.  The closing of the highway may also affect the delivery of our drinking water and we are dangerously close to not having any as we are down to our last half jug.

We are loving how the team is melding and bonding. Not only have we set up our routines living in a common space, but in how we have come together on the things that we have seen and heard here.  There are always the domestic duties to be done - a few to make the early morning coffee, or some who do the dishes or cut up the fruit (which is amazing here).  Our meals are made up in the kitchen and brought to us in the guest house by Patricia, the cook, or one of the students.  It gives us time to share our stories and get to know each other. The guest house has a lot of space for us.  Each of our rooms with 4 bunks has a bathroom, a dining area and common area, a large kitchen area and a porch surrounding the house.  

We finally got word that the protest was over and the highway was partly open allowing traffic through every 20 minutes,  By 1 p.m. we decided to take the chance and a van picked us up to take us into town.  We were relieved that the highway was now completely open and we got to the primary campus in time to get a good tour of the campus with Jessica, the staff in charge of academics.  Lots of changes in that there are only 5 residence students in the school and all the rest are day students. The residence that we saw open in 2008, has now been changed from being 4 wings with 24 kids in each wing, to each wing being a a family unit with kitchen and sitting room and a bedroom for two instead of a wing for 24. This transition has helped those who had a difficult start in life, understand what a family unit is about.  We also toured the new library, a safe and inspiring spot for the students to go. 

Anything else that we missed at the El Hogar campus today, we will finish tomorrow and got back to ITSM in time for supper with lots of drinking water packed in.  The boys' evening schedule got changed and so we did not get a chance to do our crafts and activities with them.  But they did invite us to go see the movie they were showing tonight.  I think it was just our young people, Melina and Daniel who watched it through as they were able to handle the high volume of the audio!  

We look forward to tomorrow as lots is happening.  Say tuned!