Hey Homies,
We made it across the border safely, yesterday, Sunday, early afternoon. Shortly after we arrived at the Posada, we went into the streets of Tijuana and shopped at the market. There we enjoyed a beautiful ocean view meal and the stressful bargaining with little time.
Later, when we returned back to our home for the week, the Posada, we settled down and made ourselves comfortable with the two other groups. At the Posada this week we are sharing it with our brothers and sisters from our very own Seattle and Missouri. The volunteers from Esperanza are very hospitable and welcoming. They encourage the interaction between all of the parishes because if we wish to build a community outside the gate we must start with the inside.
Today we opened our day with formal introductions. Eager to start working we hopped into the work van off to pour a roof and complete the home. The family we served today was a woman, Puala, and her family of three daughters. We never met the rest of Puala's family but had a small connection with the community members and her that willingly helped out. Though our time was short, for our work was quick being the larger group this year, we still were struck with much compassion.
We finished the roof fairly fast and had a few extra opportunities including a visit to Dolores' house (the home we worked on and finished last summer). Both the returners and newbies were impacted by the immense gratitude that was outwardly shining on her face. Many smiles and warm hugs were shared. Then we booked it forty-five minutes away to fit in another hour of work. Building bricks was much less labor intensive but just as rewarding.
During reflection time tonight peopled pointed out their highlights of the day: going back to the worksite that last year's group completed and seeing that Dolores, "still had the same intensity of gratefulness" as the year before, the unity of our group working together, and experiencing the open arms of Tijuana.
We look forward to the rest of the week!
Many Blessings,
Bailey Malneritch and Melissa Dion
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| The whole worksite for today. |
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| Full buckets of cement going up to the roof, empty buckets going back towards the mixer. |
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| Community members coming to help their neighbor finish her house! |
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| Tossing empty buckets off the roof. |
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| All about teamwork! |
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| The finished roof!!! It takes 3 weeks to set, then finishing touches. The family will be in by September! |
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| Our amazing lunch. |
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| Our incredible Sacred Heart group! |
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| It was definitely a cement day. |
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We made Dolores a scrapbook of photos from last summer documenting the completion of her home.
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Good work, gang!
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