Blog post for December 28, 2009

December 29, 2009
From the Malnutrition Center Teams:
Much giggling was heard from the back of the bus as it climbed to a higher altitude, squeezing through small town allies to the Malnutrition Center. The young girls anticipated our arrival as a guard open the gates and the bus whined up its last ascent on this drizzly December day. After Ron, our fearless leader and instructor, gave directions and safety guidelines, we entered the building. Our tour began: newly painted yellow walls cheerfully greeted us, but not like the precious smiles at the end of the hallway.
A small woman was busy mopping the floors as anxious children waved at the end of the hall. Standing outside the door of the center, Ron gathered his attentive chicks. “You must resist your temptation to greet the children until we finish the tour. I want to give you an overall view of the center. Also, a quick reminder to throw the toilet paper into the trash can and not the toilet as these plumbing lines are very old and cannot handle the paper.” Ron instructed.
Though the newly painted yellow walls cheerfully greeted us, they were nothing compared to the small children at the hall restraining themselves to run and hug the newly arrived visitors.
Wow! This is not what we expected at all! The center was clean, well kept, with a brand new kitchen and baby mattresses in the cribs which replaced a kind of wool blanket that had been the babies’ mattress.
From the Home Building Teams:
Two crews went to two separate locations to prepare the foundation and pour the floors of the houses we were to build in two days. Two shay! It was a great experience meeting the children of the families who lived nearby and watching the family members observe the work being done on their behalf. The dirt had to be hand trenched and blocks laid, with rebar set throughout and then floors leveled so that two inches (of course) of concrete could be poured. After that the teams from the easier site came to observe the “wrap up” of the team on the hilly home site. We took a group picture together and came down the mountain ahead of the Malnutrition Team. It was rumored that Jerry Haag, Denny Simmers, and Bill Mutz may have left for a Café Barista Treata on the square with some accompanying desserts, but never confirmed. Later, all joined for dinner and Eric Mutz (the missing Passport) arrived at 10 PM. Our Group is now complete!