Day 6: Our Last Service Day

       It's sad to say that our AB trip is coming to a close. Today was our last day in Barrio Blanco. Our day started off with us playing with the students in the monastery school. We sang along to some songs and then broke off with our respective little friends to play with some educational toys that they chose. My little friend Fadlin (on the very left in the picture) was obsessed with playing with the toy animals and identifying them. Afterwards, the children were called to line up for picture day, where they had to pose for their class and individual pictures. In the meantime, we split into three groups. Some stayed with the kids, others went to finish up the wall murals, and I along with a few others helped prepare the assembled bookshelves for future decoration by painting them white.
       While the bookshelves were drying, we all gathered inside to watch a play that some AB-ers and Young Star students were involved in. The audience also included some parents. They rehearsed a few times, so the kids were pros at it and the end result was beyond cute.  Then, we celebrated the successful play and our volunteer work in Barrio Blanco by eating a cake with everyone that read: Gracias University of Maryland!
       Finally, we were able to work with a Young Star on customizing their bookshelf. My Young Star was Adriana, who told me that she like three things: the color pink, butterflies, and smiley faces. And we made it happen! We added a beach with fish and even a soccer ball to customize it even more. But something that touched my heart was when she asked me what my name was and painted it underneath her name. Her bookshelf read: Adriana y Mikha. It was then that I realized how much she and other students in that community appreciated us. To have my name on her bookshelf that she would use for years and years and years to come will remind her that we came here so long ago to serve their community and to support her. After our Young Stars were satisfied with their bookshelves, we carried the bookshelves to their homes. We, then, marked the map wall mural with our painted hands and said our goodbyes to Barrio Blanco. It was sad to think that we might not see the same people again next time around, which made the goodbyes even more sad. And I know this won't be the last time I see Barrio Blanco, but I will miss it and its people.