The visit to the Orphange AMAZING!!!

I have brought many groups to the orphanage but I can promise you none were like this. This was amazing and it turned out so good for a couple reasons. The girls usually wear uniforms but this was the first Sunday we took a group there so the girls did not have to wear uniforms. Sunday just gives a casual feel to things and everyone seemed very relaxed. We arrived around 8am and the the EastRidge kids introduced themselves to the locals and then the locals introduced themselves also. We then did a quick show on what a typcial breakfast is for the girls and we made one of their favorite dishes which is called gallo pinto. This is the most popular dish for Costa Rican's and they all eat gallo pinto everyday. We were very hungry so we put the girls in pairs with kids from EastRidge and the Spanish practice began. We then did a presentation of the gifts that the girls brought.

The gift of $500's to the orphanage was somthing no group has ever done before. This was amazing and the fact that the kids help raised the money was one of the top moments of working with this home. Actually it was one of the top moments of our business. Being the river-guide adventure dude I dont see myself getting emotional on things but this topped riding a class V rapid. Just to give you an idea of the place it is a home of abandoned girls some victims to sex abuse, violent abuse, and orphaned. We as a company have been working with them for a few years now by bringing groups and also by taking the girls out of the home every 3 months to take part in tourist activities. We have brought the girls rafting, ziplining, volcanos, and last month to the beach. For all but two girls it was their first time to the beach. The country of Costa Rica is only 57 miles wide so getting to the ocean should not be that tough. The girls home is completely operated on private donations. They do 3 fundraising activities a year and that is what keeps them going for the year. The girls are trained in making bakery and when they turn 18 if available they find a family to take them until they are ready to live on their own which is usually 3 - 4 yrs. The girls also make jelly that they sell which is made of pineapple and papaya. All of the ingredients in the breakfast that we ate were products that the girls had grown on the property. They do an amazing job and the "Mama" who is a lady named Marielos is a mother of 23 girls that does an amazing job. She is in the picture accepting the $500 given by the group. Thank you EastRidge and all that had any part in raising the money for the girls. Our staff was also given Ridgefield hats which I will take a picture of all of us and send it to you. Please dont get scared we are really not as ugly as the camera makes us look. We are on our way to the beach cruising on the new highway. We will be arriving around lunch and will post later. Have a great morning everyone! We have not seen a cloud all day it is beautiful sunny weather!!!

If your interested in visiting the girls home on a Costa Rica Family Vacation we can make it happen!