Day 10: Final Day at Orfanto Jehova-Jirah

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Journal Entry by Mike Philbrook

It is our last day working at Orfanto Jehova-Jireh in San Salvador, and while we are proud of what we have built there, we will be sad to leave the friends we have made. After breakfast, most of us pile onto the bus bound for the orphanage, but a couple people are rushed to the optometrist. Matt’s eye is red and swollen, so he goes to have it looked at to be safe. It turns out he has an ulcer in his eye, but fortunately he will be okay.

When we arrive at the orphanage, we fill in the trench we dug yesterday for the drainage pipe and complete the cement floor. It is looking great! We finish our work by the early afternoon—all that is left to do is put up the roof, and the contractors have to do that. Today is the hottest day so far, and we are glad to be done work early.

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The afternoon is spent with the kids. We have brought donations of clothes, toys and hygiene supplies, as well as some extra money we have. The children and the caregivers are genuinely grateful for what we can give them; this is a small orphanage with many children living here. For the rest of the afternoon we play basketball with the kids and show them how to use a digital camera. Everyone had lots of fun!

Finally it is time to leave for the last time. We say goodbye, and then head back to the Alamo. Tonight we are going to go stay at a beach house belonging to one of the Rotaractors here. We are excited for the break and to see more of El Salvador.

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The trip to the beach is uneventful, and once we arrive our hosts cook us a delicious dinner. Then, to our dismay, we see a humongous tarantula inside the house! Everyone panics except for calm, cool Lily who traps the spider in a jar and releases it outside. We are tired after a long week, so we head to bed excited to explore the beach tomorrow.Bottom of Form