June 9

Today was a very long but very productive day. In the morning I went to Paul Harris 
again. I really enjoy working there. I feel like I am getting to know the kids really 
well and the teachers are becoming more open. Before, we were the white kid volunteers 
who barely spoke Spanish, but the few words I've spoken to the kids has shown that I know 
enough to hold a conversation. And that has opened up a lot of opportunities to speak. My 
Spanish has improved so much since I've been here. I may not remember all the rules for 
grammar that i learned in high school, but I definitely know enough to talk to the people 
and get my point across, and that is really all that matters, and it helps me realize 
that I can do hard things. I was so scared to speak before, but now it is so much easier. 
I've learned that it is better to try and then be wrong than not try at all and never 
know how much you know, and so never get better. I use Spanish so much that I'm starting 
to speak to myself with it. I haven't started dreaming in Spanish yet, I don't think... 
But it's only a matter of time, right? 
I was so excited the first time I realized I could fully understand what people were 
speaking to me. 

Something that has really helped is talking with the boys at hogar de cristo. They are so 
eager to talk to us and learn English that I have to pay really close attention to what 
they say. And we explain things to each other in both English and Spanish. There is an 
understanding that we won't always be able to understand each other, and so we are 
patient with each other. I like it. I like them. They are awesome. That is where I went 
this afternoon. We were there for almost five hours working on the wall. I took pictures 
this time! We are almost done with the base coat of paint! It's a hard wall to paint. 
It's huge and is made of uneven brick. I would've preferred a smoother wall for the 
mural, but this is the one Luis wanted us to paint, so that is what we are doing. It's 
getting done though! Little by little. Tomorrow, while Talmage and the boys fill in the 
last cracks, I will start on the under drawing for the mural design. I'm so excited! I 
hope it turns out ok. 

Anyways, that's all for today, besides some of us did some push-ups and abs and played 
just dance on YouTube tonight on the roof. I wonder what the Peruvians think of us :)
Oh funny story, on the way home from hogar de cristo on the bus, we went over a huge bump 
and we flew about two feet in the air, no joke. It startled me so what did I do, I 
screamed slightly. It was more of a squeak, but it made everyone I. The bus turn back and 
look at us... It was so embarrassing, especially since we were already covered in paint, 
and so looked even stranger... Haha oh well, we already stick out so we might as well 
take advantage of it. 
Anyways, love you!
Amber 

These are the youngest boys. Noe on the left and Victor on the right.  They are pretty funny.

This is Neibar.  I call him Vecino.  And Wilson is the one with his shirt over his head.

The wall, where it was at around 5ish today.  We didn't leave until 7 though, so this is not the latest progression picture.

Us and almost all the boys, I think.  It's hard to tell who's in this picture, unfortunately.  I will have to get another group picture before I leave. Luis is on the far right.