A quick update....then supper.

Today was the day.  We were up bright and early and ready to go for 8 am.  The taxi came for us at 8:30 and whisked us off to the Accion Callejara headquarters where we met the amazing Milagro and Bentodina along with so many others.  The shoes had JUST ARRIVED!   This morning.

So our first program involved "shoeing" for want of a better expression about 60 Haitian street kids.  Many of  these teens walked or found their way from Haiti after the earthquake.  They live basically on their own but the incredible people at Accion Callejara give them a place to drop in and feel welcome, often providing food but also activities and definitely lots of TLC. 

Then we were off to a school in the suburbs of Santiago.  This particular school started for 13 years in a railroad type trailer but has grown very well thanks to a generous donation by the Japanese government.  They've added a medical office, a dental office and several classrooms.  It is really the nicest facility for miles around.  More pictures later. 

We went back to headquarters and were served a delicious lunch by our wonderful new friends. 

The best was saved for last.  We travelled by car and truck and at the end walked in through the narrow winding hilly street....and we use that term loosely....to arrive at our next school.  Up an unbelievably steep staircase and we were greeted with huge shouts and cheers of welcome.

The kids put on several performances for our benefit - baton twirling, playing recorder, entertainment by their own version of Dancing Gabe named...Yanqui (no more than 4 years old).   Then it was "shoeing"| time - oh my goodness what a frenzy. 

One of the highlights was that 3 girls in the corner developed quite a crush on Derek and one of the English translators decided to tell them he was a rock star.  Oh Yes.  That did complicate things somewhat but it made it easier for us to clear a bit of space for the much overcrowded photography section (headed by Shea) when we sent him to the other side of the room to sign autographs. 

It was extremely crowded and loud through much of the time as we really tried to keep our cool in outrageously hot conditions.  But as you'll see when I get the photos posted...it was extremely well worth the effort. 

The kids made individual cards for us (I think there are at least 70 of them...all in Spanish). 

After we delivered the shoes we took a walking tour through the neighbourhood these kids live in.  It will be impossible for photos to capture it properly.  It is so heartbreaking...garbage and squalor everywhere.  People living in cardboard shanties underneath a bridge.  Pigs in the creek running through the area.  It was truly one of the most deplorable places I've ever seen - and most of you know I've seen a fair bit of poverty in my life.  I will post a photo but again, it is difficult to capture how truly awful it is.  

We really can't wait to add more photos and update this more...but we do need to go get some food before the town closes down so we're off to wake up the hard-working kids and get out to eat.  Will hopefully get more up later but definitely wanted to put at least a sampler up now.

Abundant thanks to Milagros and Bentodina, Ernesto, Dean, Bob and everyone else at Accion Callejara.  We will never EVER forget you and the children we had the privilege of meeting today.