We didn't have to wait too long. Once breakfast ended we broke into two teams. One team stayed behind to finish clearing the underbrush on the camp and the other headed into the community to do more work on the house we were at yesterday. After we left yesterday, the locals finished putting up the one wall we started and had begun to dig out a trench for another. Dakota and Cody stayed there to help dig while Fr. John and Fr. Tom began hauling cinder block about 3 miles up hill over rough and rocky roads (it is possible they even had to traverse large mounds of snow), okay maybe it was only about 150 yards. But going up hill did make the job more interesting. After a couple of loads they switched to sand and gravel.
Those who cleared underbrush were thankful for being able to work in the shade. Just as yesterday the teamwork was great. Due to the heat and the length of the trip, breaks seemed to come a little more frequently today. They were well deserved and it was important for our team to stay hydrated. After they had completed all they could do, this part of our team joined the other part. Enroute everyone grabbed a cinder block or two. Except for Virginia and Cat those who started out carrying two soon were carrying one. While this added to the number of trips needed, it sure was easier on the arms muscles. When we arrived with our blocks, Megan and Sharon stacked them up.
Once all the bricks were in place, Ali got to show Rebekah, Edita, and Virginia how to sift sand for the mortar while Cody and Dakota loaded the wheelbarrows. Back at the building site, the rest of the team formed a conga line with several of the locals to begin passing bucketfuls of concrete and mortar mix to begin filling in the trench dug earlier. Our work complete, we headed back to the camp to wait for lunch. After siesta, those who are interested will have a chance to go down to the river and get wet yet once more. Of course with the thickening clouds they may not have to go to the rio to get wet.
While the majority of the group headed to the rio, Father John, Sharon and Megan stayed behind. Sharon and Megan enjoyed the time by leisurely taking a not so frio shower and repacking their suitcases in anticipation of moving locations tomorrow. In the meantime, Fr. John sat and read. So how long did our 15 minute walk to the river take? Were you thinking 30; if so you would be wrong. It actually only took 15 minutes.
The place we went had a nice sand beach. The water was still brown from all the dirt being washed away with the rain, but the river had some deep spots where the team could do more than wade. There was even an area deep enough that allowed our team to follow the locals who went with us and jump in off a six foot high rock. The water was cold but after a hot day of work, it felt really good. After about an hour or so, the weather started to take a turn and we headed back to camp. We didn't get very far before the rain began to fall. Fr. Tom, who avoided going in the river to avoid getting wet, soon realized he should've jumped in and had fun because he still got really wet on the walk back.
When we got back to camp, and people heard that some had had less than a cold shower, there was a mad dash to see if there was any warm water left. Afterwards people just chilled as we waited for dinner and the fiesta planned by the camp staff. Dinner and fiesta started at 8 pm. There was a lot of food as local parish members brought enough to feed an army. A typical pot luck. Then the dancing started and it went on until 11. It was good fun with everyone getting a chance to shake their booty. Fr. John and Fr. Tom used their clerical skills to move effortlessly from the dance floor to a place of hiding to avoid the several requests by the locals.
Cody and Megan were a hit on the dance floor. Cat shook things up with her rendition of shake it, Virginia, Edita, Rebekah, and Ali Had the boys lining up. Dakota was macho man as he seemed to quickly pick up some of the moves. Sharon actually got to dance with her husband and Keith was shaken it up with the best of them. All in all it was a great night and a nice way to blow off the steam of a very hard week's work.
Tomorrow we will worship with Padre Carlos in the morning, finish packing, have lunch then load up the bus for a 3 hour drive (hopefully) to Santo Domingo. As our trip comes to an end, it is safe to say we are different, each in their own way.
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