Navigating Nicaragua: Sweet ANGELS and water slides!!!

Well, guess what the weather was like today... HOT!!! But, I think we are getting used to it (maybe).

Today was absolutely one of the best days of my life. We started the day out by going to the orphanage for children with special needs; Hogar Ninos Angeles. There were about 20 to 25 children and 4 incredible women that took care of these children and the facility. The facility was spotless and the children were on mats on the floor. It was incredible to see their smiles, and although one may think they didn't know we were there, they did! As special education majors, we were able to pick up on children using tennis balls for sensory stimulation, some children were over stimulated and we were able to pick up on the implications from this too. We sat with these children and loved on them unconditionally. As we began to leave, of course I started to cry and thought to my self what more can I do? After realizing we had done what we were there to do, I was able to wipe the tears and continue the day. However, I would like to ask that when you say your prayers, please say a prayer for these special angels and the women that take care of them.

Home of the ANGEL Children

After visiting the orphanage, we got to go to lunch in the city. So... we chose pizza! After taking the taxi, we got in the restaurant, and they had air conditioner! :) This was probably some of the cheapest and best pizza I have ever had! Communication went fairly well, although it did take us 5 to 10 minutes to ask for marinara sauce!

Now for the even more fun part!!!

We each paid $5 for us and one child from El Chonco to go to a Nicaraguan water park. Trust me... it is not what you're thinking, but it was a blast! There were three working water slides that did NOT meet US regulations by far. There was also a petting zoo, and by that I mean animals were running around the pool! :) They even had a merry-go-round (see picture below... I can't even explain it); it was so much fun to spin the kids on it! We also celebrated one of the workers birthdays today and her whole family got to come! :) The children played hard, we played hard, and needless to say, the bus ride back to the village had many ninos sleeping!