Tuesday, or the day we needed an ark

Today started in the usual way - morning prayer followed by a wonderful breakfast. We enjoyed all the fruit - fried plantains, pineapple and cantaloupe.

We then headed to the school and nursery. Everyone was divided up into different classrooms. Our grasp of Spanish was put to the test as were our abilities at playing tag during recess. Some of our teens taught brief English lessons or helped teachers with tasks like laminating books.

Lunch was the usual again - sandwiches, apples, chips, cookies and juice. It was a needed break before an afternoon of work.

Lunch in the library.

Our tasks involve the second floor of the school that is being built. We had to mix concrete by hand, hauling the water up the steps in large buckets. Then we used the concrete to set blocks in order to create a wall around the stair case or to fill in some gaps in the classroom walls around electrical works.

Alainna is our master of concrete patching.

A few minutes after we set to work, the sky turned dark and it suddenly started to rain. Then it began to pour. Then it felt like there was merely a river straight from the heavens descending on our heads. It blew in so quickly that we did not even have time to grab our rain gear. Everyone was absolutely drenched. Everyone kept working as best they could.

Though drenched, Heather and Surina did an amazing job
chipping away cement.

Setting the rebar for a wall. In the torrential rain.

Cleaning up and scraping up the concrete.

Given we were chilled, it was unsurprising everyone was anxious for showers when we returned to the retreat center. Tonight many added long sleeves to their ensembles for dinner and evening reflection. Now they are enjoying some free time playing Bananagrams, Canasta, and Euchre.

Yet again, the teens were impressive, not only for their work ethic but for the reflection, prayer, and thought they bring to the trip as a whole and the evening prayers specifically.

Many are already processing this trip as they reflect on what it means to be successful as people in modern America, but more importantly what it means to be a successful Catholic.