Today looks to be another hot one. Hardly a cloud in the sky. At least this morning we had water. We learned yesterday why they are having so much trouble with the water, the pump that feeds the camp is old and needs to be replaced. While we are here they are trying to keep it going. One problem they face is that there is supposed to be another group coming in as we leave. Padre Carlos was very apologetic about it. We tried to reassure him that it was okay. Through all this the team gained an appreciation for what the locals lifestyle of living with scarcity.
Padre Carlos asked if we were coming back next year. I told him while we would like to it all depended on resources. I know that there is a real desire to bring together the youth from our partner dioceses of the Sudan and Dominican Republic, but I am not sure we will be able to pull it off. If we are, I told him we would probably have a team available and willing to work. We then discussed potential projects in the local community. The classrooms need scraping and painting and the church has several building projects underway.
It may sound funny to hear the church has building projects, but the local government does little to support the people and they turn to the church for help. Limited by availability of resources too, the church does what it can. They build while they have funds and pray for the time when they can build again. Another real need we were told about last night was scholarships for the school. The area we are in is fairly poor and families cannot afford to send kids to the church school without help. Add to this the state offers little to no help in financial support to the school, teachers can go without pay. For just $300 we could provide enough of a scholarship to send a child to school for a year. When I think of the cost of the instrument on which I am typing this, it seems so little.
In our evening meeting last night with Padre Carlos, we also talked about today's projects. We will be splitting the team up. Some will continue to plant trees while a few of us will head into town to help build a foundation wall for a man who works at the camp. The boards of his house are rotting away and a two course layer of brick will help stop the water from running through his house when it rains. Because he works at the camp, Padre Carlos would really like us to help him. A small project that will have a big impact on the quality of life of someone.
Did I say small project. It didn't feel like it. We were digging to lay a foundation. While we waited for the arrival of the concrete, we sifted sand. Then came to mixing of concrete and mortar. It was like baking, we had a big pile of sand to which we mixed concrete and water in the middle. Mix, mix, mix until it reached a fair consistency. Thinking we were done the next thing we knew they brought another wheelbarrow of sand and added more water. Thankfully the locals took over from here and they mixed in the last and started hauling buckets back and forth from the ditch we dug. In the meantime Dakota and Ali went to help bring concrete block. That is when we became observers until Padre Carlos told us we could go to lunch.
While part of our team worked on the building project, Sharon and the rest of the team planted more trees. All together we planted close to 200 citrus trees on camp property. Thankfully most of the planting went quickly. The ground was relatively soft and there were few rocks. The break that followed lunch was very welcome. I think the amount of physical labor is beginning to take effect on us. Only one more day of work. It is hard to believe how fast the week has flown by and is pretty surprising how much we have accomplished. Of course we could not have made as much an impact if it were not for the help of the locals who always seemed to be there to work side by side with us..
Later this afternoon we will walk into Jarabacoa. We are told it is only a 20 minute walk, does that really mean 40? We will soon find out. It will be nice to take in a little more of the culture, do a little shopping, and then enjoy pizza for dinner with some of the folks we have been working with. When it came time to leave what should arrive; not Santa and his reindeer, but rain, lots of rain. Thank you Jesus!! Had it not begun to rain we would have walked into town and the town center was not 2 miles away but more like 5. Instead we piled into a couple of taxis and headed off to town.
Once in town it really began to come down. We headed for the only dry spot immediately available, a gazebo in the town center park. A few brave souls took flight to a local ice cream parlor across the street while some stayed dry. As with all things, the rain too passed and before we knew it the sun was back out and we traveled around town doing some shopping until we met Padre Carlos, his family, and several of those we worked with at a local pizzeria.. Ten pizzas later the kids acted like kids and spent about 30 minutes swinging on the swings, sliding on the slides, and taking all kinds of pictures with their Dominican friends. A little later we headed over to Bon for more ice cream before hopping into a couple of taxis and heading back to camp.
Once back, we gathered for the evening round table discussion and Compline (this time led by Virginia). As the evening comes to an end, some are playing cards and some are hanging out with others at the camp singing songs and playing guitar. It is a such a peaceful night.
Padre Carlos asked if we were coming back next year. I told him while we would like to it all depended on resources. I know that there is a real desire to bring together the youth from our partner dioceses of the Sudan and Dominican Republic, but I am not sure we will be able to pull it off. If we are, I told him we would probably have a team available and willing to work. We then discussed potential projects in the local community. The classrooms need scraping and painting and the church has several building projects underway.
It may sound funny to hear the church has building projects, but the local government does little to support the people and they turn to the church for help. Limited by availability of resources too, the church does what it can. They build while they have funds and pray for the time when they can build again. Another real need we were told about last night was scholarships for the school. The area we are in is fairly poor and families cannot afford to send kids to the church school without help. Add to this the state offers little to no help in financial support to the school, teachers can go without pay. For just $300 we could provide enough of a scholarship to send a child to school for a year. When I think of the cost of the instrument on which I am typing this, it seems so little.
In our evening meeting last night with Padre Carlos, we also talked about today's projects. We will be splitting the team up. Some will continue to plant trees while a few of us will head into town to help build a foundation wall for a man who works at the camp. The boards of his house are rotting away and a two course layer of brick will help stop the water from running through his house when it rains. Because he works at the camp, Padre Carlos would really like us to help him. A small project that will have a big impact on the quality of life of someone.
Did I say small project. It didn't feel like it. We were digging to lay a foundation. While we waited for the arrival of the concrete, we sifted sand. Then came to mixing of concrete and mortar. It was like baking, we had a big pile of sand to which we mixed concrete and water in the middle. Mix, mix, mix until it reached a fair consistency. Thinking we were done the next thing we knew they brought another wheelbarrow of sand and added more water. Thankfully the locals took over from here and they mixed in the last and started hauling buckets back and forth from the ditch we dug. In the meantime Dakota and Ali went to help bring concrete block. That is when we became observers until Padre Carlos told us we could go to lunch.
While part of our team worked on the building project, Sharon and the rest of the team planted more trees. All together we planted close to 200 citrus trees on camp property. Thankfully most of the planting went quickly. The ground was relatively soft and there were few rocks. The break that followed lunch was very welcome. I think the amount of physical labor is beginning to take effect on us. Only one more day of work. It is hard to believe how fast the week has flown by and is pretty surprising how much we have accomplished. Of course we could not have made as much an impact if it were not for the help of the locals who always seemed to be there to work side by side with us..
Later this afternoon we will walk into Jarabacoa. We are told it is only a 20 minute walk, does that really mean 40? We will soon find out. It will be nice to take in a little more of the culture, do a little shopping, and then enjoy pizza for dinner with some of the folks we have been working with. When it came time to leave what should arrive; not Santa and his reindeer, but rain, lots of rain. Thank you Jesus!! Had it not begun to rain we would have walked into town and the town center was not 2 miles away but more like 5. Instead we piled into a couple of taxis and headed off to town.
Once in town it really began to come down. We headed for the only dry spot immediately available, a gazebo in the town center park. A few brave souls took flight to a local ice cream parlor across the street while some stayed dry. As with all things, the rain too passed and before we knew it the sun was back out and we traveled around town doing some shopping until we met Padre Carlos, his family, and several of those we worked with at a local pizzeria.. Ten pizzas later the kids acted like kids and spent about 30 minutes swinging on the swings, sliding on the slides, and taking all kinds of pictures with their Dominican friends. A little later we headed over to Bon for more ice cream before hopping into a couple of taxis and heading back to camp.
Once back, we gathered for the evening round table discussion and Compline (this time led by Virginia). As the evening comes to an end, some are playing cards and some are hanging out with others at the camp singing songs and playing guitar. It is a such a peaceful night.
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