Written by Peter Rodgers.

As you may know from previous posts, we are now staying at a camp in Siguatapeque that is very different from where we stayed in Orica.  Even though this camp has amazing facilities and God has blessed this camp with lots of resources, there are many things I miss about Orica.

The thing I probably miss most about Orica are the kids and just hanging out with them pretty much all the time.  Here is a little story about them.  On the first day of our work on the playground, there was a large gathering of families and children there to watch us work, and in some cases, help us work.  The kids were rewarded with a meal if they chose to help us work, so many of them were eager to help.  It was a great expereience to be working alongside the kids, whom this playground is for, and practice the little Spanish I know with them.  Soon, the kids decided to give me a nickname.  I told them my name was Pedro, and after working with them for a while, they started calling me Pedro es Camoso.  I wasn't quite sure what this ment, but the kids seemed to get a kick out of it, so I was just fine with it.  The next day, this nickname persisted and even more kids were calling me by this new name and soon enough, even my group members from Madison were calling me this.  Later, I found out through one of the translators that this is a name of a famous Latin American soap opera star who dances and is quite good with the ladies.  I thought it was hilarious.  I was told it was a connection obviously because of my name, but because of the hat I wear that resembles a cowboy hat.  All of the team members now want to google this guy when we get home to see what this guy actually looks like.

The kids of Orica made a great impact on me.  They live in such poverty, some not knowing if they are going to eat that day or not, most barely wash at all.  Yet, the kids are joyful and love us so much.  I know now that they are the reason I went to Orica, to serve them, and I hope this playground we helped to complete is enjoyed by them and generations to come.  They deserve it.