Hello Canada,
Day 6 – Tuesday January 14th:
Today we once again painted the classrooms and we finally got to start putting on the yellow paint. All the classrooms have now been primed and are ready for paint. We once again were taken to Maria Laura, the principal of the school, mothers house for a wonderful lunch and coffee.
After work we were invited to Maria Laura’s house for dinner. She cooked us a beautiful dinner with a lot of yummy Dominican fixings. We got a demo on how to make fried yucca and were sure to write down the recipe. After dinner, we mingled and sang some worship songs together (in English and in Spanish). It was a great night of fellowship and music!
Day 7 – Wednesday January 15th:
Today was another rainy day, but we were able to make the most of it! Unfortunately, two of our team members had to stay at the Mission Center because they were both sick. But we made do without them. Many of the rooms got their first coat of yellow and the ceilings in 3 of the rooms were completed as well. Some of the team was busy hauling buckets of sand up from the road, onto the roof, and when the rain put a stop to that work, they joined the rest of the team inside and continued priming more of the hallway.
We had some fun with the children playing with some costume wigs and accessories, they had a blast! We also had lunch at the school this time, in order to cut out the travel time so we could get more work done. We were given a Dominican stew, Sancocho, it was delicious!
In the evening, we drove to Cinthia’s house for a wonderful dinner with her family. Cinthia is Bill’s goddaughter here in the Dominican. It was well worth the 45-minute drive to get there because the food was abundant and delicious! Everyone left with their bellies full.
Day 8 – Thursday January 16th.
Today was our last day working at Espacio de Gracia. Before work we were asked to go back to La Esperanza. When we got there Keila, the principal, gifted us some personal gifts for the work we’ve done there in the past. After a group photo, we said our goodbyes and were on our way to Espacio de Gracia.
When we got to Espacio de Gracia, we got to work as soon as we could. Shortly after getting started, we were called downstairs for some time with the kids and teachers and the students performed a special presentation for us, and we were given a going away present from the teachers. It was followed by hugs from almost all the students. (some even came around for second hugs!) At lunch we once again ate at the school and afterwards we got to enjoy a going away cake from a local baker, it was so good! After lunch we got right back to work and managed to finish painting yellow in almost every classroom and even put the finishing touches of grey on the drop ceiling in one classroom. We said our final goodbyes and headed back to the Mission Center for dinner and a night out to Carrefour for some snacks and frozen yogurt.
-Espacio de Gracia Burlington HANDS Team 2020
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