First Day on the Job

So, today we begin the work we came to accomplish. The day began with devotions at 0700. After that we walked down to the home built for orphaned children with disabilities to have breakfast with them. This walk was no easy feat. The road leading up to where we are staying is quite steep and so the walk down the side of the hill wasn't very easy, even with the concrete blocks positioned intermittently in the hill to help us down.  We were greeted by some of the children and for breakfast we were served Mangoo (Sp?) which is apparently a very common Dominican breakfast. It was unripe, boiled plantains with onions and fried cheese over the top. The consistency was unusual, but it didn't taste that bad. We also had "Hot chocolate" but it was more warm than hot and had a cinnamon flare to it. It was very good   Our bus picked us up at 0800 to bring us to the work site.  When we arrived the local Domincan workers were in the process of measuring and marking out in chalk where the walls for the church and school will be, so we were asked to begin clearing some of the leaves/garbage away on what will eventually be the paved driveway. I got to use a machete for the first time ever. Very cool. Used it to cut up the rest of what used to be a mango tree to move it out of the way.  Some of the team worked to set up what would be our "bathroom" for the day while still others helped pick up rocks on the area where we will be building. We also have witnessed the biggest centipedes any of us had ever before, and not just long, but fat! Once the lines were finished, we were able to start digging between the lines they sectioned off for us, where we will eventually put a few layers of bricks for the wall base.  Everything is done by hand here. After a quick lunch break of rice and beans and unidentifiable meat, it is back to work now. Hasta luego!