After a good night's rest following our exciting Tuesday, we headed full speed into another day of adventures. Katie and Wendy woke up early to pick up the kids and were filled with joy from the eye opening experience. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast of oatmeal and peanut butter tortillas then headed out after dishes were done. While the rest of the group went to the work site again and did a fantastic job stuccoing walls and making more progress on the house, Katie Laurie, and I went to Good Samaritan, an Elderly Care Facility. Their motto was "Where Love Saves" and that love was evident in those who worked and volunteered there. We met the director and worked closely with Doming, who works there, and Marina who gets up very early to volunteer on a daily basis. We had fun chatting with them while we worked since they spoke a bit of English, and teaching each other Spanish and English. After browning noodles and washing windows and lamps, we moved to a job that was really challenged us to do hard things. We washed dishes and a toaster and organized and cleaned the pantry. These tasks wouldn't normally have been hard but we were appalled by how dirty everything was.We wondered where the soap and hot water for washing dishes was. Even the water we washed the dishes in that was supposed to be clean was definitely not and you could tell by the color. Sometimes I was thinking that the dishes would be more clean if we didn't wash them. It was mentally exhausting just thinking about how gross everything was and how they had next to nothing. We couldn't help thinking that we'd rather be helping build the house. But through this experience God showed us how truly blessed we are and opened our eyes to how joyful people can be when they have next to nothing as long as they have God. Next we visited with the elderly for a few minutes which was heartbreaking because a few of them were so far gone. Then we helped with laundry and eventually the van came to pick us up. We came back to welcome home for a lunch of macaroni salad and Mexican rice. After lunch we went back to the work site. It was amazing to see how much progress the rest of the group had made. In the afternoon some painted the house pink, some put in drywall, and others put in some of the ceiling. Devin, Tim, Jaden, and I and I worked on roof drilling and putting paper on, which goes before the shingles. I enjoyed talking to the family a bit more, especially the children. I even got to hold Genesis, the youngest daughter. She's so precious and such a happy baby. After about three hours of working we loaded into the van and went back to welcome home. We washed up then went to a taco stand for dinner. I didn't realize such an unsanitary place could have such delicious food. There was pork and beef and corn and flour tortillas. There was also really good apple soda for drinks. After dinner we went to the baseball game which is right across the street. The Freseros, or strawberry pickers, is the local minor league baseball game. We got good seats and enjoy the game but no one stayed for the whole thing because it didn't get over until after midnight. After the game we went to bed. The end.
Tate-Madison
