Babies at the beach

The Tuesday after Easter Sunday, Casa Suyapa left for the highly anticipated annual trip to the beach. There had been concerns about funds and space since we now have over 100 kids in the hogar, but we were fortunate to still be able to go. A countdown calendar was placed on the wall, and the kids crossed off the days until it was finally time to pack two full school buses, a storage truck, a huge van, and hit the road.

One of the buses before the tíos tied 20+ mattress on top.

 Monday evening was a flurry of packing and frantic kids. The girls wanted to help pack, when the greatest help they could offer was to go to bed so the adults could prepare everything. Mattresses were tied to the top of the buses, bags and bags of diapers were loaded, and all the food we would need for the next 4 days had to be organized and stored.

After some final packing and mass distribution of carsick medicine, we left the Ranch and started our little adventure. We stopped for lunch on the way and arrived about 4-5 hours later. We unloaded the truck, set up the sleeping areas, and started dinner. Everyone was tired from the heat and traveling, so it was an early night.

Here we go!

Wednesday morning, the beach frenzy began. I helped inflate water toys for the kids and wiggled water wings up sticky little arms. We had a morning beachside Mass, and then it was water time. The kids lined up along the shore, clutching their inflatable Shamus and jet skis, waiting for the countdown when they could finally swim.

My 5:30am wake up call. Look at that morning hair.

Patiently waiting to swim 

 Photo credit: Hunter Johnson

We did the same routine for Thursday: breakfast, beach, lunch, nap, beach, dinner. Friday the kids swam in the morning while some of the adults packed and cleaned. We left after lunch, and didn’t arrive back on the Ranch until close to 9:00pm.

Christina and I taking a break from the sun.

Photo bomb captured by Val Sis

There was a lot about the trip that was hard. I was sweating constantly. I applied SPF 50 several times and still managed to burn. I woke up each day with at least one of my girls on my mattress with me, wanting to snuggle in 85+ degree heat. Christina and I saw a scorpion scuttle across the floor, a mere 10 feet away from our mattresses before going to bed. There were 3 bathrooms for over 130 people.

Yet, as has been the case during my volunteer year, the good far outweighed the bad. The kids had a break from chores, and just got to be kids. Instead of school work and mopping, the kids played in the sand and ocean for 3 straight days. I got to know the tíos and tías better, and we bonded over sunburn (well, my sunburn, their tans) and surviving the heat. I am so grateful to my fellow Suyapa volunteers for applying sunscreen, laughing through our exhaustion, and for braving our 3:30am wakeup calls to make breakfast for everyone.

We made it!

Making pupusas. It's between 4:00-5:00am

Some of the kids & adults performing "one minute of fame" before bed

I don’t know if I would be ready to go to the beach again, but I am glad I had this experience. Just last week, one of the Chiquitos told me he was ready to leave for the beach the next day. While it was exhausting, and so much work, it truly is one of the highlights of the year for the kids. 

Photo cred to Hunter Johnson