Day 4

After we wrote last night, we went up to the town's gathering place and found some of our boys playing UNO with a group of local kids. We were so impressed that they were playing and interacting with them. Before long, all of us were gathered there, some playing soccer, some playing keep away with a basketball, and others getting tips from the kids on how to play with a "trompo" (a top all the kids play with here). It was such a fun time, playing and interacting with each other!



The work day began early (5:30) and slow... again! Things are definitely on "tico" time here. Nothing seems to happen fast or when it's supposed to happen. We were standing around a lot, itching to get started. A tractor and a truck of dirt fill that was supposed to be here the day before still had not arrived, one of the cement mixers broke, and we didn't have as many local workers as we had the day before. Our hopes (that had gone up and down the day before) of being able to finish the court by Saturday were again being challenged. But, as time went on, things started to happen and by 8 or 9 we were rolling along again with dirt fill, a tractor, 2 working cement mixers, and eager workers ready to help.

It was a tough day of hard work but our group is amazing!! I can say without a doubt that none of these guys have done this hard of work for this long before. It was a day of perseverance and everyone stepped up!
We have gotten compliments from the locals who say they are impressed with our hard work, our politeness, and the fact that we pick up after ourselves. They are also impressed with the fact that our ladies work just as hard as the guys do. (In this culture, women don't do that kind of work.) We also got wonderful compliments from the contractor of the job! We have such a great group of guys on the trip and we couldn't be prouder of them!



















Work ended today at about 3:45, when the skies opened up! Boy can it rain here! We ended the work day soaked and tired, but still with smiles on our faces!
Tonight after dinner we have another soccer game scheduled with the older guys (the locals that beat us 2 nights ago). The guys are still trying to get them to understand that we are just playing for fun and that we don't care if they beat us we just don't want them to hurt us. : )
It is still pouring rain... but I think that excites some of the guys even more!

Goodnight for now! We love and miss you all!