Mission Trip Day Two - Tuesday, December 28th 2010

Tuesday morning started around 7.  My roommate Jon had complained about a cold shower the night before, but my morning shower was somewhat warm. Enjoy it because it would be my last!  haha

Breakfast was in the hotel: scrambled eggs, toast, coffee.  It would be about the same each day - some days they would have french fries (this was not a low calorie mission trip!).  We all gathered in front of the hotel for our trip out to the mission site.  Our "taxis" were actually pickup trucks and many had to ride in the back. 

Each day we would gather for our morning briefing, prayer, gospel reflection and work assignments. 

This is Father Andy Turner leading us in our morning ritual

You can see in the background of this picture  the recently finished statue of the Blessed Mother, Joseph and baby Jesus.  It will change dramatically during the week.  Also notice the large black water containers on the roof of the green building.  When the water system is not working, this is the main source of water for the village for drinking, bathing, and laundry.

The children of the community were all happy and were always up for a game.  Here's a game of "duck- duck - goose" on Tuesday morning.

We got our work assignments for the first day.  I got crafts!  Jon got trenches.  He looked at me like "who did you pay off?"  Ha Ha  (All kidding aside - Jon worked very hard all week long!)


The craft of the day was to make an advent wreath.  A group of volunteers from the church had put together all the needed materials to make the craft and it was our job to supervise.  

Here's Father Andy telling the kids what we will be doing for the day

Here's Stephanie, Sarah, Rachel and Steph discussing the meaning of the advent 

wreath and its significance to the Christmas Season

One of the tables working on their wreaths

Boys will be Boys!

I noticed during the making of the craft - that this table of boys:

Was not getting along with this table of boys:

It didn't take long before both tables jumped up and ran outside.  When I got outside, two of the boys were circling each other, giving each other the "evil eye", waiting for the other to make the first move.  In what my girls call my "mean voice",  I pointed at one and yelled "You!"  then pointed at the other and yelled "You"  and then pointing at the door yelled "back inside!".  I think they understood the international language that they better get back inside!

Here is the finished project

After lunch I was assigned trash duty.  It is very simple.  You get a garbage bag and walk around the community and pick up trash.  Father Bob told us that the community is really getting better about the trash situation.  By going out and setting the example of keeping the community neat and clean, we can really making an impact.


I soon found myself with a willing volunteer - Reuben:

Reuben was stuck by my side for about an hour of trash pickup.  He was very protective of our trash bag - he carried one corner and I the other.  He wasn't very happy when others tried to help carry the bag.  My trash entourage quickly grew and pretty soon I had a crew following me.  We didn't speak the same language but we had fun, making a game of picking up the trash!

My trash crew!

After we finished our trash duties, I was assigned to the paint crew.  I checked in on them - they were painting the ceiling in the new community center. 

Paint Crew in the new Community Center

They seemed to be working well as a team and I kept having these guilt feelings about the "trench crew" and wandered outside to give them a hand. 

The Trench Crew

About a half hour later, I began to seriously think about the paint crew again!  Haha  .I caught up with my roommate - Jon Lawrence - who had been "in the trenches" all day.  It was tough work, but also inspiring to see the residents of the community working so hard to improve what they had.

After a hard day's work, we got back in the pickup trucks and headed back to the hotel.  A very cold shower!  brrrrrrrrrr!

We had dinner at the hotel and then played some card games.  Justin taught us a new card game - "Mao".  It's a great game where you have to figure out the rules as you play.  We played two rounds and I won the second game!  It was luck! 

Jon, Darius (a resident of the village)

and me taking a break from the "trenches"

Jon and Joel with one of the teachers at the school

Jon in the "trenches"

One of the residents who lost hishand in a motorcycle accident who

worked harder than all of us!

On Tuesday night, our fun began with the guys next door: Justin, Bobbie and Jon.  They go to Kenston High School and are members of Holy Angels Church.  The guys kept leaving the door to their hotel room open - many times with the key sticking in the lock.  My roommate Jon told me that we needed to teach them a "life lesson"!

We took Justin's suitcase and hid it in one of the girls' rooms in our hallway.  Justin came back later and we could hear him yelling "Someone stole my suitcase - I am going to be in big trouble"

I think Justin could tell by the "grins" on our faces that we were somewhat involved.  After letting him worry for a while, we showed him where the suitcase was located.  He was not very happy with us!  haha