Tropical storm

Slept so-so last night, restless dreams. But, felt pretty good when I got up. Still have laryngitis. :/

The tropical storm has brought wind and rain but right now (after lunch) the sky has cleared off a bit.

We were supposed to go to the beach this a.m. but the rain kept us at the hotel. We were still able to play games and make drawings with the kids outside under the shelter. The storm surge was 20 ft. high and came up over the retaining wall of the hotel. The kids (and adults!) had a blast playing in the water and confronting the huge waves head-on.

I learned a little of the background of some of the kids. One boy named Tri (pronounced "Tee") was found when he was 2 years old, abandoned at a lake. They had no idea who his parents were or where he came from, so he was named after the lake where he was found. Another girl, Be (pronounced "Beh"), who is a bit older, was left at a train station with her older brother. A gangster claimed them and gouged Be's eye so she could beg on the street. The police caught him and took the kids to SS3. Be's brother ended up getting an education and a job as a chef. He sends his sister money and visits her at the orphanage often. I'm sure each of these kids has a heartbreaking story, but the staff doesn't share any of that with them (understandably).

Apparently, when GVI started working with SS3, the kids were sad and listless, but over the course of a a few years of interaction, they were transformed into the happy, loving kids we are encountering today. GVI is incredible.

The sky looks to be clearing a little bit so we might be going to the beach this afternoon.