Hello friends and family 🙂
We had an early morning, waking up around 7:30 and eating eggs, bread, and fruit. At 8:50 we loaded onto the bus and headed for Mata de Cadillo. We were warmly welcomed by the community members who were ready to lend a helping hand. Today was a very productive work day on our CAP project—the base for the fogón (outdoor stove) for the community was built, the design for our table was started, and the walls for the kitchen are almost finished. Also, the lunch prepared by our lovely cooks Antonia and Juliana was delicious.
After working until 2:30, we rushed home to prepare for our second to last day of English tutoring. All groups had pretty successful lessons, and the students were sad to hear it was our second-to-last day with them. Our nightly meeting was blissfully short—after a brief reflection, we passed the torch for Líder del Día to Abby and Gianna! Although we were very tired by the end of the meeting, we managed to end the day on a high note with a successful scavenger hunt led by Emma and Hannah (Team Losers for the win!)
P.S. Thanks Mom for being the first comment on ALMOST every post. I love and miss you all. – Jessica
P.P.S. Mom I really need a spicy Chick-fil-A sandwich when I get home. Give Noodle and other family members my love. – Ava
Anjali and Jordan flexing their huge muscles
Rich putting in 420% effort
Mathieu and Abby working hard in the fogón area
Anjali, Natalie, and Yadira also working hard for the fogón
Jishnu, Natalie, Jordan, Abby, and Bella on shovel crew
RIch, Jishnu, and Alfredo posing inside the soon-to-be kitchen
Marvin, CJ, and Mathieu posing with cement
CJ, Lorenzo, and Mathieu actually mixing the cement
Mathieu, Lorenzo, and Gianna taking a break with the fogón (that wooden table)
Natalie, Abby, Clara, Jessica, Ava, Anjali, and Skylar filling in the cracks in the table
Mathieu filling the wheelbarrow with cinder blocks
Justin and Marvin being buds 🙂
Working on the rain canal
Table crew and Fabian filling in the cracks, part 2
Yadira, Abby, and Skylar shoveling featuring Mathieu playing Minecraft in real life
Progress on kitchen walls
LDDs and friends
Hi Glimpsers, you’re making us all so proud. It’s amazing to see all the progress you’ve made in only two days. You all must be exhausted and sleeping very soundly. Your kitchen is looking great, you will leave your legacy for many years to come.
Jessica we love seeing your beautiful smile and even though we miss you tremendously we know this experience is one you will never forget and one that is molding you in so many positive ways. We love you and can’t wait to see you soon. Love Mom, Dad, and Julia
P.S. Hope Ava and you had a great time being the LDD, it looks like a very productive day. Great blog, really enjoyed reading it.
Hope you’re all wearing gloves so you don’t get blisters, lol. Love you
Wow! What progress!!!! Good job all of you!!!
Gianna we miss you and can’t wait to see you!!!! I bet you are ready for some La Villa Rav’s! Gracie has been moping around and going in your room looking for you. Jessica said she misses you ALOT!!!! Keep up the good work Kook!!
Love Mom, Rob and Gracie.
Hi Bella and all! looks like a hard workin and yet satisfying day! I’m so proud of you and the group. Enjoy the rest of the adventure. I cannot wait to see you early Friday morning. We miss and love you so much!
Yer Old Man!!!
Hey Anjali,
Nice gains…super muscles from all that shoveling 🙂 The project is looking good. Glad you’re having an amazing time, learning some life skills, and helping create something meaningful. Yes! Have a radiant day 😉
We miss you.
Dad and Mom
Ceci, you promised me that I was going to see you in each picture because you said you would photobomb them… Where cabbage are you?!?!
The kitchen is coming up quite awesomely!!!
You kids are natural!
Love love love.
Mamma Chiara
What a fabulous gift you are all providing for the community. The kitchen is looking great.
awhhhh Jess it’s amazing seeing all the work that you’re doing. I’m so proud of you and I miss you so much. You’re such an amazing person and I knew you would work so hard. I love you 🥺❤️
Hi Abby, everything is going well and we miss you so much! Can’t wait to have you home. Enjoy these last few days! Love you, Taylor
Lorenzo
Hi kuya, good job! I can tell you’ve been working hard. Dad and I are so proud of you. We can’t stop looking at the pictures. 😊
Yesterday, Alexa worked in a greenhouse. She was able to experience the whole process of farming for cucumbers. And, later tutored for the second time. Their classes are much bigger than yours.
I know your trip is coming to an end. And, i’m So sad for that. But, at the same time I can’t wait for you to come home. I keep looking in your room. We miss you so much!
Glimpers, you are an amazing group of kids and should be proud for what you have done for the community and your family in DR. You all worked so hard and so well together. And most importantly you had fun. Thanks again for the photos. Continue to have fun and good job on your CAP project.
Isabella is 14 today. Luckily she has her friends keeping her busy.
3 more days! We love you, mom, dad, Isabella, Jack and Princess.
Abby and GG Crew- The project looks like it’s coming along great! You are all amazing and creating something special for the community to remember you by for years! Very exciting! Looking forward to hearing all of the stories that happened between these great blogs!
Dad
You guys are amazing! The work looks hard, but all I see are smiling faces. It must feel good to give to the community something that will remain long after you all leave. Skylar, it’s really something to see you behind a shovel!!!! I’ll have to keep that skill in mind the next time it’s needed at home. Love you, and can’t wait to see you back home! Dad