Today we had our daily wake up call at 7:30am and had breakfast a little later than planned. This pushed our preparations for our CAP presentation (Community Action Project) back about 15-20 minutes. It left us with about 5-10 minutes to prepare our presentation before the arrival of the La Maestra of Bajo Corral and Kiera, a Peace Corps volunteer. We presented our 4-part project, the four parts being a Garden Compost/Reforestation, a Mural, bathroom repairs, and producing informational signs for these environmental goals. Our idea was approved by the two members of the Bajo Corral community. We are excited to start executing our ideas on Monday.
At 11:15 we had our mental warm up and introduced our Question of the Day: “Is poverty always apparent?”. Then, after lunch, we took a field trip to a temporary orphanage called NutreHogar. In our time here we were introduced to the director of the facility, Maruquel, and she told us her story of working 48-hour shifts–two days on, two days rest to take care of the children. We were also informed that there are only 5 women for around 18 children, ages ranging from 8 months to 3 years old. To help these women we separated into smaller groups to clean the facility and help anyway we could. We swept, mopped, disinfected, wiped, and scrubbed, and then spent time with the children. Plenty of laughs were shared, and most of the kids didn’t want us to leave.
We returned to the hotel around 3:00 and reflected on our time spent at the orphanage. We revisited our Question of the Day and everyone shared about the the things they will change when they return home. We also applauded the inspiring, hardworking “nannies” who have dedicated their lives to the continual care of malnourished children. After this empowering reflection we had free time and Glimpsers chose to stay in the hotel to rest, go out to the supermarkets, and/or peruse thrift stores.
For dinner, we ate fried fish with plantains or French fries. We were excited to have something that hit a little bit closer to home, but also featured the Panamanian culture. After dinner we had a 30-minute meeting with small groups to discuss materials for our CAP projects and at 8:15 we held our daily nightly meeting where we discussed our “three C’s”, Courage, Compassion, and Commitment. In addition we also discussed the “R”–Respect that the Lideres Del Dia added. We expressed that courage was a big part of our day because a lot of our bilingual Glimpsers stepped out of their comfort zones and translated.
To conclude our night, we ended things a little differently, but also very powerfully. We had a poetry slam expressing our true selves. During free times both yesterday and today, we were able to write poems all with lines starting with “My people are…”. Lots of tears were shed because of the love we share with one another. We realized that we have truly become a family very quickly and share a bond like no other.
“Stop playyinnnnnnnn”
Camilo.. hijo, no te puedes imaginar la emoción que sentí al leer lo que hiciste en el día. Fue retroceder el tiempo, mi primer trabajo en Chile como Trabajadora Social fue en un Hogar de Niños. Es maravilloso ver cómo has trabajado pensando siempre en los demás.. Cada día te extrañamos mas. Pero Tu felicidad hijo es NUESTRA.
Te Amamos
Mamá, Papá y Antonella
So proud of this kids , we need more programs like this, but I believe should be at least 1 month for a good experience
Hi Camilo!!
Morning Cassidy,
This had to been such a beautiful day!! Playing and laughing and giving all those kids time and attention.., you know I’m crying reading it!! Love that this day was learning about compassion, courage, and commitment as those are 3 of your many wonderful traits! ( also more 3 c’s lol) I cant wait to speak with you tonight, hoping you’re looking at the sky at night cause we are!!! I miss you terribly and love you even more!!
Camilo eres una gran persona con un corazón gigante estoy segura que está gran experiencia te dejará los mejores recuerdos y llegarás con el corazón llenito de amor
Te queremos mucho
Good Morning Morgan
I know it was exciting for you to be leader, I’m glad you all are a family, you all have developed a friendship that will last a lifetime
Can’t wait to hear your voice tonight
Love & miss you so much 😥😘
👀@themoon
Querido nieto te felicito por tu inclinación por lo social espero que te enriquezca tu corazón por servir a los de mas un gran abrazo a la distancia espero verte muy pronto te quiero mucho
Hola Camilo disfruta al máximo está experiencia que estás viviendo…. Un abrazo y besos te queremos mucho. Víctor y Mayra 💕
Querido Camilo, se nota que lo estas pasando increible, estas viviendo una experiencia única, en donde te enriquecerás de historias y aprendizajes, aportaras con un granito de arena a otros, sin embargo los otros lo sentirán como una playa por completo. Sigue creciendo tanto y enamorandote de la responsabilidad social, siendo parte del cambio. Estamos orgullosos de tí. Un abrazo grande.
Te queremos mucho !!
camilo..un orgullo no solo para tus padres …tambien para quienes te vimos crecer …no solo crecer fisicamente …pero tambien en espiritualidad ..en valores ..en tu capacidad de dar ..felicidades muchacho ..
Hi GiGi, you are such an amazing young lady with a huge heart, is really nice what your doing over there, we love you and miss you🤗
Hola Camilo mi gran nieto te felicito por tu gran espíritu social y entregarles un inmenso cariño a esos niños que tanto lo requieren será una gran experiencia en tu vida cuidate mucho un gran abrazo nos veremos muy pronto
Que lindo Camilo me recuerdo mucho a su mamá cuando trabajaba en Los Ángeles y llegaba todos los fines de semana con niños a la casa, veo que se refleja mucho en ti la vocación social.
Te queremos mucho 😘
Woof Woof Morgan,
Harley & Tiara here, we miss you hurry home, mommy don’t give us treats like you do.
Miss you
1🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕
Morgan,
It was so good to hear your voice and see you on facetime, cant wait till you come home 7 days😘 😘😘😘😘😘😘
Love granny
Hey Morgan
it dad good to here your voice
Love ya can’t wait till you come home, stay safe
Here are your numbers 6164
Love dad😘😘😘😘
Hey Morgan,
Just thinking about you,
Love ya mom👀👀👀🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😘😘😘😘looking @ the moon
Morgan, hope you are having a great time, be safe I guess I will have a conversation with you when you get back😁Love ya be safe, miss ya
Love Auntie Valley
Hey Morgan,
It looks like you all are doing great work, I’m sure the locals are loving you all being there, you are such a smart and outstanding young lady, your future is sooo bright. Be safe and hurry home we miss & love you.
Aunt Pam & Pyrai
Hello Ms Morgan, how are you doing? You’re starting on your second week and I’ll bet you’re still not homesick, but everyone else is counting the days, enjoy this last week and be safe. Love you, uncle Knuckles.
Hey Morgan,
I hope you are having a great time me and Angie can’t walt to hear all your wonderful stories about your trip.
Hey Brisa, your siblings miss you very much. What a great experience to give back to those that have nothing and yet they have all the love to give. Pictures say millions words!!! Love you mi niña hermosa can’t wait to see you 💕
Good Morning Morgan,,
No new pictures today☹☹
Hope you all enjoyed your free day, shopping
Love ya miss you like crazy😘😘😘😘😘
Love mom
Aakayla you said you would call me on messenger my name there is Imcool OnU. hope to hear from you soon😘
Hey Morgan,
This is your brother Tim. Looks like you’re having a good time. Be safe, have fun and enjoy!
Hi Morgan
Just wanted to say hello again today. Looking forward to hearing about your joy when you return. You all are taking advantage of your blessing! Keep up the great work! Love, Cousin, Net.
Hola GiGi are you learning Spanish yet lol, I’ll test you when you get back we miss ya 🥰
Hey Alex this is mom I hope your ok.. te extrañamos y te amamos. Se ve que se la estan pasado bien..
Yo whats up bro it me Joshye how r u you should call me and tell me what’s up
Hey Alex this is Mom we love you and miss you a lot.. espero Estes bien .todo se ve muy bonito ya quiero q me cuentes todo lo q has vivido.
Camilo, hijo cómo estás? Hola extrañamos no recibir ni fotos desde el Sábado. Cuídate …ojalá sigan disfrutando y apoyando a la Comunidad. Te Amamos
Papá, Mamá, Antonella y Rocky 🐾
Hey Morgan,
Just sitting here thinking about you, just finished cooking dinner, as always dad ate toooooo much😃
Can’t wait to see you in 6 days
Mommy miss you so much stay safe😘😘😘😘😘
Hey Morgan,
Mom put us on a diet, we refuse to eat that food, she said we have to lose 7lb by January, hurry home we need you to sneak us treats
We miss you 🐕🐕🐕🐕
Love Harley & Tiara
Hola kati te ves bien contenta cargado al bebe.
Sigue disfrutando te estaremos esperando.
Morgan,
Good night baby🌛
Love mom😘😘😘😘
Hi liz or “shorty” like we call you (even though you’re taller than me now.) It’s so amazing seeing the great work you have been doing with your team. We are super proud of you and miss you so much! I always check for new pictures of your trip to show mom and dad. You can see the happiness through their smiles. We love you and can’t wait until you come back sis. Sincerely Mom, Dad, Janet, jenny, and Lexi ❤️
Hola mi bebe te extraño muchooo pero estoy muy feliz que la estas pasando muy bonito Cada dia que pasa te extrano mas y no me as ablado mi ❤️ Pero dia a dia le pido a dios por tii y todos tus compañeros que dios los bendiga y los cuide te quiero mucho mucho 😘😘😘😘😘
Hi Aakayla, hope you enjoyed your trip and created lasting friendships. We love you and are so proud.