Sunday, July 10, 2016
Yesterday was our last day in El Estrecho Abajo with groups for the summer. Our carnival was a hit in the village and surprise gifts came all day long. It started with a white glove welcome for US as we pulled up in the guagua. Kids and adults lined the road to cheer us to a stop before we got out of the van and started down the callejón. There were balloons on all the houses and across the road where we set up the fiesta. Midway through the afternoon we turned the tables and surprised our three families with beds. A red truck pulled up stacked high with mattresses for everyone to spend their first night in the new homes comfortably. Next was Juan Carlos who jingled the keys to his front and back doors in excitement. He couldn’t contain himself when he offerred to leave a key with us in case we ever showed up and he wasn’t around to let us in.
At the end of the day, the tears began to flow with the last surprises. Abelito and La Mella spoke to the crowd, thanking everyone who collaborated in the building of their new house. Felix and Sobeida offerred to brew coffee for every guest that showed up after they thanked God and G.O.E.S. for their first home. And finally, Juan Carlos spoke elegantly about the challenges of moving to El Estrecho from Puerto Plata. He and Nana came to the village four years ago with no family or help. Working here and there, hope was the only thing that got the couple through the days and nights. With their first home together, G.O.E.S. helped the family make a life long dream come true.
Dropping off CFC Loud N Clear Foundation 501 c3 at the airport meant closing the doors on another wonderful summer. The next couple of days will be full of smiles and tears as we say goodbye for now to our three new families. Hasta pronto…
Friday, July 7, 2016
Finishing touches!! Walking away from today’s work we felt on top of the world. with one more work day it was an incredible feeling to put the blue on Juan Carlos’s house and finish up the dominican flag down at Felix and Sobeida’s house. As we headed back over the hill, the only two houses on the land are ours. Our new neighborhood is coming together as friendships are being born between all walks of life.
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Yesterday we brought La Mella’s house to life with color! It’s something special when the lemon yellow hits the walls and it’s impossible not to smile when you look at the brightness of the house and the happiness reflecting off of Germania’s face. We welcomed the surprise of our dominican crew pouring the floor when we got there. Green with specks of blue make it original and a first for our team. By the end of the day, we walked off of La Mella’s job site knowing that her house was two doors and one day away from being finished.
Over on Juan Carlos’ house it was all about the roof. Hammers were literally flying through the air, pounding nails through the rafters and ridgepole to frame out the roof. The morning started with smiles from the Regan family (Lynn Regan) and ended with high fives and hard work. With a solid day of rest under our tool belts we are ready to climb to the sky one more time to put on the zinc and waterproof the house. Juan Carlos looked on with amazement as he helps to make his dreams of being a home owner come true.
“Those who are first shall be last. And those who are last shall be first.” It was Felix’s house down at the bottom of the hill that got its finishing touches with dividing walls and door prep. Tomorrow is the last day on his house and Friday he and Sobeida look forward to moving in. He looked on with a smile as we worked on his interior.
Monday, July 4, 2016
How do you possibly describe 24 hours in a word? It’s been amazing to have CFC Loud N Clear Foundation 501 c3 down here so far and tonight’s reflection was based around just that, you’re experience in a word. Energy was extremely high this morning as the group from NJ made its first waves on the job site today. We pushed hard to finish the roof and white painting on La Mella’s house as well as the clapboard down on Juan Carlos’. La Mella stood at the end of the day with a smile from ear to ear as she clapped to the group while we walked out the door. After a beautiful sunrise, the light at the end of the tunnel was literally and figuratively present today.
humble, grateful, honored, love, taken, thankful, excited, community, astounded, extraordinary, communication, elated, revitalized, acceptance, appreciation, group, comraderie, impressed, glutony, perserverance
CFC comes to us from Ashley Regan, Emily Regan, and Dan Regan, who all experienced G.O.E.S. at separate times in the past six years. Their family based organization started five years ago with the help of their mom Lynn Regan. Find out more about their organization on their website www.healingus.org.
Friday, July 1, 2016
At the end of hard work there must be some fun. Today we ventured back down to one of our homes away from home, La Sabana. Many people were reunited with old friends and fun was had by all. Whether face painting or painting nails, everyone of all ages was there. We even got visited by the local cows who ran through the middle of the action.
As a program that is founded on relationships, it is a pleasure to visit friends. La Sabana has truly embraced us and we feel at home wondering around the callejones from La 14 to La 18. Today’s goodbyes were extra hard. It was goodbye to friends we only spent a couple of hours with and goodbye to our village. Tomorrow we all go our separate ways and await the day we are together again.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
You make me smile.
I’d trust you with a secret.
I like working with you.
You challenge me to be a better person.
I look up to you.
I’d trust you to speak for me.
I learned something from you.
I feel good about myself when I’m with you.
I’d put you in my trail mix.
I see you making a difference.
You’re a hard worker.
You lead by example.
I admire your fiath.
You’ve mae a difference in my life.
You’re part of the skittles in my rainbow.
I think there’s beauty within you.
I’d walk with you to get water.
I’d carry your burden.
You have a good heart.
You make me feel strong.
I like working with you.
You bring out the best in me when we’re together.
I’d hold your hand.
The sound of your laugh makes me smile.
You give good hugs.
I’ve learned to respect others through your example.
You gracefully move through the world.
You’re a great person.
I’d thank you for something.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
It was an amazing day of hard wyork with some great progress on the houses. Clapboard went up on La Mella’s house, we painted Felix’s interior and exterior, and we finished the block on Juan Carlos’ lower half. With four steps from front to back, Juan Carlos’ house joined the club of challenges. After working on the 14 steps in La Mella’s house, these four went in without a hitch. By the end of the day we were filling in the top row of block with the sloppy mix to set up for woodwork and framing the walls.
At the end of the day at Felix’s house, we leveled the floor and prepared for the crew to come in at 6 am to pour the floor. With his hometown pride, Felix chose a blue floor to acompany his red house with white trim.
La Mella was excited to get us back on her house and eagerly awaited our arrival in the morning. She had coffee and ice ready to go for us midmorning to pick us up and help get us through the day.
Monday, June 27, 2016
With a light at the end of the tunnel, work was consistent today and everyone was involved. A hard push started as soon as we got to the job sites and the energy was high. Nailing on Felix’s house continued and moved right up to the roof while gabled ends, which always provide a challenge, were done slowly but surely. Felix stood on the front porch in the shade with a grin from ear to ear. He pulled me over to him to let me know he had spent the night in the house looking after our tools. Tonight he can rest assured in whichever house he chooses knowing that he and his lovely bride will never have to get wet while sleeping again. With a tin roof over their heads, they can sleep soundly knowing their future is more comfortable.
Juan Carlos’ house was all about the block. “Work work work work work” was sung all day as block after block was laid up through the steps. With a level row all around the house, tomorrow’s work will be much of the same as we try to finish laying 450 blocks in two days.
Our summer is reaching it’s half way mark and the families, participants, and community are growing with happiness. Each day new faces come to see what is going on. Today we had a visit from the man who will install our doors, and he could not stop talking about the blessing from God that our families are receiving. He spoke from the heart as he talked about the strength of our gift to not only the families, but also the community as a whole. It certainly inspires us to continue working hard and dream about the potential impact of working in the area for years to come.
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Progress progress progress!! We flew through work today and had a blast doing it. Between working on window frames, finishing the footer of Juan Carlos and Nena’s house, laying some block, wrapping Felix’s house, and framing the roof, we were hard at work from the second we arrived in El Estrecho Abajo until getting back on guagua. So many people learned new skills and had a blast doing it. At circle time, countless roses were “nailing my first nail,” or “laying block for the first time.” Tomorrow’s excitement is yet to be seen
Saturday, June 25, 2016
So far, so good. We had some wonderful surprises today on our job sites. As for our thought on the first 30 hours in country…
learning, exciting, new bulldozer, surreal, tired, determined, impressed, happy, grateful, friendly, beautiful, patience, moved, eye-opening, ecstatic, hopeful, exhilirating, refreshed, mesmorized, fun, incredible, appreciative, relaxed, sweaty, comforting, optimistic, resilience, hot, wicked, super-duper, amable.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” -Buddha
All work and no play makes for a dull trip. We ended the week of intensely long days and hard work with some well needed playing. Our carnivals have become traditions in many villages and kids flock from all over to come spend time with us. Today it was the usual face painting (this time the whole face), nail painting, volleyball, tattoos and bracelets. The kids were almost outnumbered by the adults who came to have fun before saying goodbye.
After the carnival we took a walk up the epic hill to look out as far as the eye could see. The land was plenty and the view was fantastic.
Back at the Villa we continued with traditions and had our candle lit closing ceremony. Off of the quote from Buddha, we reflected on memories and ways we have been changed over the past nine days, looked forward to the future, and shared our happiness.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
On our last work day it was all about the wood. We started the morning with energy and excitement, placing the flat 1×6’s on the block, we sealed the deal and moved upward with studs. By the end of the day, the stacks of wood had turned our blocks into a house. The sun came back out today and spirits were high. Between Austin dancing on the wall and the songs being sung on both sites, everyone was excited and eager to get one more day in before relaxing tomorrow on the horses and carnival. It was a wonderful feeling walking away from the huge smiles on our families faces as they stood in awe and gratitude of the work we have already done. Their anticipation grows with every block, every nail, every sun rise and sun set. The next two days will be long for everyone while we go through the motions of finishing up one trip and starting another.
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
As the leaders sat down this morning before everyone else was up, we set a high bar to finish working on block by the end of the day. It was a lofty goal for the day given the amount of challenges we had already faced. By lunchtime, both houses were various mixes into the day and making incredible progress. After breaking for moro negro and some eggplant, we jumped back into work mode right away with the light at the end of the tunnel. As we neared 5 o’clock the final blocks were being laid on both La Mella and Felix’s houses and the smiles of accomplishments could barely fit on our faces. While it was a longer day, it was well worth it.
Tomorrow we start working on wood, something more familiar to our experiences at home. The piles of materials are starting to really look like houses as the front porches are done, the houses squared, and the block is up to the bottom of the windows.
Check out the Facebook page for photos.
Monday, June 20, 2016
Today was a much needed day of rest. Six days ago we embarked on a mission to build houses. Today we embarked on a catamaran to relax. We left Puerto Plata on the Free Style Catamarans and headed out to sea. Midway through the day we received a welcomed rain while swimming with the fishes. Time was spent in the water snorkeling and jumping off the boat trying to catch a tennis ball. For most of the day the sun was in full affect and many shoulders are no longer red from carrying bags of cement but the patches where sunscreen didn’t make it. We enjoyed the time to take a load off, but are excited to get back at the mix tomorrow.
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Birthdays are a wonderful day. Anywhere in the world they are a celebration of life and a special day not only for the person in the spotlight, but also those that get to celebrate around them. Dominicans love a good fiesta and a birthday is just the right cause. With Anna Steiger turning 15, la quiceañera was a extra special day for her. Dominican custom splashes water on people all day, so we combined our love for Anna and their love for traditions to get her a little wet after lunch while singing Happy Birthday.
The rest of the day was hard work, full speed ahead. Down at Felix and Sobeida’s house squared off their corners, measured and leveled their lines one more time, and started pouring their footer just before lunch. Working with concrete is fun and gets lots of people involved. From digging sand, to carrying buckets, there is something for everyone. Best part of pouring a footer is it is the last step before laying block. At La Mella’s house, a long day and hard work paid off as the spiral staircase of a footer progressed slowly but surely. With 14 steps around the foundation, it indicates a 40″ rise from front to back. That’s more than the height of your average 4 year old. The site had a fun atmosphere while passing buckets up a fire line and hucking them back down to the massive pile of mix. Half of the house is poured and ready to go while the work continues today on the rest of the footer.
Today was finally the day where kids began to join us on the site to work. They carried empty buckets, hooting and hollering as they “drove their truck” down around the corner to bring the cubo back for more. The men and women are getting used to our presence and are stepping in to help.
We finished with a trip to La Sabana to see old friends, make new ones, and visit with those that are close to our hearts. All of our families were doing well and more than excited to see us.
Friday, June 17, 2016
The music starts playing at 6:30 a.m. and the footsteps begin shuffling soon thereafter. By 8 we are on the bus and on our way down the road to El Estrecho Abajo. Today we were again greeted by cheers from both the families and the many kids that awaited our arrival. The properties we are building on provided challenges from the first picks. While it was a wonderful and generous act to donate over 106 plots of land, they are all on a steep increase. Down at Felix’s house, the team started with weeds and grass on their plot. By the end of the day they had leveled more than 3′ down AND dug the footer, ready to go for tomorrow morning.
La Mella’s house literally a piece of work. What started with two steps in the foundation finished with over nine, some eight inches (one block), and others as many as 16″. It was truly a challenge, and one for the books.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Out on the properties we began the process of building houses. The whole group, all eight of us, traveled down to El Estrecho Abajo and were greeted by a pack of kids jumping up and down while chanting. It was a dream come true. Like so many other places, the children grabbed hands and jumped in our arms as we walked down the callejón to get to La Mella’s plot. Both groups of student leaders measured out their footers and squared their lines. Kids and families were all about helping out and supporting from afar. The excitement in La Mella, Felix, and Juan Carlos is reaching a pinnacle just in time for everyone to arrive mañana. It’s only one more night until the first plane full of eager students lands and one more until we are building another house, continuing the journey of changing lives.
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Today was the first of many big days. The four Morobel brothers stood in front of a hushed crowd and spoke their hopes and dreams for the 100+ plots of land on the property donated in the name of their mother and father. “Mami dijo, ‘dejen eso allí que algún día será algo grande.'” Something big is an understatement for the potential that his family’s donation has in front of it. El General quoted his mother and delivered a strong message of the future colliding with the past. His family was raised in the area and all left for the big city, but returns from time to time with fond memories of running through cow fields and learning to play dominoes with his neighbors. This trip was different. A large stack of yellow envelopes with titles to the land was piled high on the table as the excitement grew and the applauses got louder. One by one people approached the table, shook hands with the brothers, and walked away with a smile on their face, envelopes in hand, and welcomed applauses from their new neighbors. Our very own Juan Carlos, Felix, and La Mella were three of those people. After receiving their paperwork, the group stood with pride for a photo before Felix and el Toro walked home to show their partners a glimpse of the future.
Friday, June 10, 2016
“We heard the motorcycle and waited for you to come in.” Sobeida y Feliz were patiently waiting at the house while chopping fire wood for the stove to brew some cafe. Anyone who knows anything about food and life in the Dominican knows that coffee is not something you pass up, no matter the heat. We sat and laughed about life before they walked me around to see the tarp strung up to their cana roof to keep the rain out. Sobeida’s clothes were strewn around the backyard “drying” from the last time it rained. They are beside themselves with joy at the opportunity to have their own house. The owners of the place they are living in now are asking for the house while neighbors fight to allow the couple to stay one more month.
Yesterday was all about buying materials for the houses. The pride in their country is teaming up as Juan Carlos and Feliz are going to be neighbors, they decided to paint their houses blue and red with the white window trim to make the colors of the dominican flag. La Mella opted for yellow! Today was the first shipment of 600 blocks to complete the lower half of a house. Let the countdown and the excitement begin!!
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Today I spent some time with La Mella and her daughters in their patio. It was then that we all realized how young they were in 2011 when G.O.E.S. built for Kismayri Diaz Villaman and the other members of El Estrecho Abajo. Ika and Yanira were only 5 and 7 respectively and little dots in a large crowd. They were super excited when I delivered the news of their new house and immediately started talking about the fun they had five years ago. They remembered people by name, asking for Kelly Milana,Jacob Martin, and JoAnn Giacalone D’Anton or Mama Juana. They danced around the backyard in joy with their now three year old sister who is joining in on the fun and excitement for the days to come.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
I spent much of today running around seeing old friends and making new ones. From La Isabela to La Sabana to Luperón, I made the rounds. Nana and Saralin are ready to begin cooking. Papo, Kiko, and Chunga are chomping at the bit to throw the first pico y pala into the ground. And Felo is counting down the days until the guagua pulls into the Santiago airport and the first group of extraordinary students walks out the door from customs.
Monday, June 6, 2016
The sun set today over the hills of one of my favorite places in the world, a place I call home. It is wonderful to be back in Luperon getting things ready for the summer. First group arrives in ten days. Let’s go!!
