Reflections...Part III

Wed. 2/18

• CONCRETE DAY
  
• today's temps climbed up to the 90's
• poured concrete in wall header around entire perimeter of bldg. via a bucket brigade

First, the men would fill their wheelbarrows with concrete (at least we didn't have to mix our own this time).
Then, the women would pull the concrete into buckets.
Then the buckets would be handed up to the men on the scaffolding.Where it was poured into the headers.

• we had the whole header poured before lunch! with only 10 gringos and 10 Mexicanos
• the afternoon was spent putting up frames for the classroom ceiling/upper level floor
  

Me, breaking up dried concrete to clear the footings for the framing being put up.

• after a beautiful dinner at Las Generales, we had a devo in the Lashley's room and had a wonderful time of sharing our personal feelings about our time spent here in Mexico

Thurs. 2/19

• checked out of our hotel and ready to leave for job site at 7:30 a.m.
• truck poured concrete into columns we had built (thank goodness we didn't have to use buckets for this)

I love this picture that Barrett took, cause it shows how big this building is going to be.

If we could've only stayed a little longer, we could've finished this classroom space.

• at lunch, our sweet Mexican friends presented us each with a gift of cookies and a "thank you" book marker

• we left Santa Monica after lunch and despite a couple of "small" delays on the road and at the border, we were soon back in the U.S.

Although it felt good to go "home," it was equally as difficult to leave. The people in Mexico are so appreciative, kind, loving and joyful and there is so much work left to do in Santa Monica. Working alongside brothers and sisters from Ft. Gibson and Mexico is an indescribeable experience. To have Neal beside me on this trip made it even more special. We can't wait to go back!