Day 2: Work Duro, Play Duro

by Brandon Baldovin '15

Hola Mundo,

After failing to rise for our sunrise jog, we gringos found ourselves scrambling to meet Hota Koo (JQ’s) strictly enforced 8 AM meeting time. We made it. Then we broke for a quick bite at CMT’s own panaderia, which can feed an army, let alone the Regis squad, for not much more than $1. Padre and Madre then paid us a special visit to speak about El Centro’s history and core values. Though no names will be mentioned, a drowsy member of the convoy managed to doze off at the entrancing words of Padre Juan. 

Elliott Sanchez serving soup for the children's lunch...

But we had to wake up quickly to make ready for a tour of the Center and to help prepare lunch. We attended a mass much different from what we were used to, with clapping encouraged and music provided by the center’s very own ninos. Cleanup was long, and 500 washed and dried dishes later we and JQ were exhausted -- but a nice kind of exhausted, free of impending stresses like the ones we experience during a busy school week. 

... and then piled on by the kids themselves!

We took a well-deserved break and regrouped at 4:30 to spend some time at the daycare, where the children found joy in scaling Elliott as if he were one of the lush mountains surrounding their city. Finally we gringos dedicated our final hours of daylight to a thorough beatdown in futbol at the hands (or was it feet?) of the Ecuadorians. We ended our day by supping together and sharing our reflections a gospel passage from Matthew about work and leadership, picked by Elliott himself!

The first of many futbol matches.

Un Gran Abrazo,

Los "Gringos"