From the eyes of Riley

Screening Day 1

"Once again it is the end of the day and I am very tired. Today I tried fried banana and it was so gross tears were almost coming out of my eyes. I woke up at 5:30, ate breakfast from 6 - 6:30 and then went to screening for 11 hours non-stop. There I would play with the kids. I put up the front of my hair in a ponytail and ponytails like devel's horns. Every kid I walked past would smile and if I made eye contact with the adults, they would smile. With all the stress they have about getting their child into surgery, a smile always helps. All of the kids always wanted to pass the ball with you or something. It shows how desparate these kids are, because I had a mini kickball for all the kids to play with and a kid stole it or at least ran off with it. Right now Hondoras has a big water problem because of the big drought they are having. With the drought, there is not enough water for all 8 million people in Honduras. You might not be able to take a shower but if you want to you have to call someone and order water. I really wish I could speak spanish. All the small kids talk to me and I just kin of sit there with a weird look and try to figure out what they are saying. I love working with the kids. Everytime you play with them there is this big smile on their face and it brightens you up too. After a very long and tiring day I'm ready to go to bed. I'll see what is in store for me tomorrow." Riley

Day 4 of mission...

"I just got back from playig soccer with OpSmile volunteers and it is 12:30 a.m. I didn't eat anything crazy today. I saw my favorite kid and he is getting operated on. The other kid did not steal the ball. One of my team members found the ball. It did have his name on it, so he really wanted it. I was walking in the street and an adult man asked to keep the football I had in my hand. I would not let him have it because it was for the kids. I went to the shelter where the people who don't have a place to stay are. They get one little bed, three meals a day and all of them are packed into 4 rooms. I'm really tired and it is almost 1:00 a.m. now, so good night. One last thing before I go. I saw a guy called out the names of the kids to announce if they were going to have surgery or not. Many parents were very said. I would be too if I did not get picked. Goodnight." Riley