More summer beach trips!

This summer we have been going to a beach somewhere along the ocean amost every Saturday with the kids. Pastor Ramon really likes taking them on day trips and there are lots of different beach spots along the ocean anywhere from 5 minutes away to 2 hours away that we go to with them. Here are Jessica and Jazmin in the water.

Marianny

Carmelo

Jennifer and Bryan

Nena giving herself a mud bath

CON CON

Dominicans eat a lot of rice!!! The burnt or crunchy rice at the bottom of the rice pot is actually somewhat of a delecasy down here ...it's called con con. Here is Marianny with a plate of it after her regular lunch.

GO CARTS

This past week Andres, 15, along with some help from a few of the other boys built a couple of push carts/go carts ou of scrap wod and wheels from who-knows-where. They are pretty creative inventors. The cart pictured below has a steering system for your feet, a back rest and a braking system on the side. Here is Andres making a few repairs.

Andres and Jochi

Andres

Jochi pushing Andres on the volleyball court ... all of the boys have been playing with these cart a lot this week!

R&R at San Fernando

A few weekends ago we spent a little Rest and Relaxation time with our intern volunteers at a place called Hostal San Fernando in Monte Cristi. It's a property near the ocean with cabana hotel rooms for rent, a restauant and a pool. Our morning was spent poolside and at the restaurant for lunch.

Bryan flying into the pool

Lunch inside the screened in porch restaurant

Sleepover Night

This past week we had a sleepover with the intern volunteers and the15 girls who live at the orphanage. We put out mattresses in the main room on the 2d floor of our 2 story building, set up a floor to ceiling projector screen for watchin movies, had a buffet table of snacks, and had games and hair and make up activities. Everyone hada great time!

Apples are a treat down here ecause they are imported and that makes them expensive ... Each girl got some apple slices as they entered.
Kyrenia and Nicol by the apple bowl

The big screen set up to watch Cinderella

Hair and make up time!

Our youngest sleepover guests-- Johanni (3) and her sister Nena (5)

Jessica and I

Jessia checking herself out in a make up mirror

Liry and Kyrenia posing for some glamor shots after hair and make up

Luz Maria, age 2

MILK MUSTACHE! Luz Maria modeling for the next milk ad.

Bryan & Johanni

...playing outside on the kids' patio

Merry Risa and Jennifer in matching dresses at church.

Cornrows=Waves

Here are some oversized cornrow braids Nicol did in my hair so that I could sleep on them and get wavy hair the next day. Nicol is our resident hair stylist here ... she does little braids and different types of cornrows for volunteers and she does a lot of the little girls' hair on Sundays for church.

It worked-- Wavy hair!!! Here are Luis, Santos & I on the bus, pretending to be sleeping with some pillows that were left there.

Playa Popa Beach Day

Another fun Saturday at the beach with the orphanage kids ...

Liry, Kyrenia, Nicol and Jose Luis
Jessica and Emilo

Johanni in the water

Jessica and her famous beach hair

Jessica and I

Jose Luis and I without smiles...

...then with smiles