Our day began with a presentation at Grace School, and we spent 3 1/2 hours there this morning. We played 3 versus 3, and then the girls split up and each took a group of students to teach them the fundamentals of volleyball. At the end of the sessions, the teams played each other for a bit. When given the option to take a break, two of the teams decided to keep playing because they were so excited to have the opportunity! A common thing that has been happening when we play volleyball with the kids…they always revert back to their soccer skills. Several times today, we would have to get balls down from a net hanging over the volleyball court because they had kicked them up there. Towards the end of our time there, we were given the chance to work with the school´s volleyball team. They were a group of 11 girls who actually had some basic skills and a love for the game! We became very attached to these girls and they to us. At the end, they asked us if we had Facebooks so they could look us up!

For lunch, we went to Tom´s favorite restaurant called O Gaucho, a place similar to Texas de Brazil. They serve Brazilian food there, and they have people walking around with different meats on swords going around to each table. There was also a small buffet set up that allowed us to try new foods. After nearly three days without dessert, the girls loaded up on the 10 different types of desserts offered. We ended lunch eating some smoked pineapple with cinnamon on top. ¡Muy delicioso!

We then headed to downtown Asuncion for some shopping. We all bought various trinkets and enjoyed looking at gifts from their culture. We even got to go into a museum for heroes of Paraguay. There were 2 soldiers outside standing guard who allowed us to take some pictures with them.

Before we headed back to the orphanage to finish painting, the girls developed some pictures to give to the kids as gifts to remember them by. It looks so different with fresh coats of paint! Before we had started painting though, we handed out the pictures to the kids, and while we were working, they drew us pictures and wrote us letters. These letters to us were so beautiful! I´m pretty sure there will be at least a couple girls crying when we finally have to leave Paraguay!

Tonight, we finally saw and felt what condition the mattresses were in at the orphanage. We found out that some of the kids don´t even have a mattress We have some sponsors already for beds; however, we still have kids that need support. Please consider donating!

Much love! ¡Buenas noches!