Bonding at the Work Site.

Today we had the opportunity to visit the AIDS clinic in La Morita. This clinic is unique in the fact that it is self sustaining and staffed by the patients that inhabit it. The tour of the facility was lead by one of the patients/assistant director and we learned a great deal about the facility's history and background. He explained that the clinic is funded in part by private donations and in part by government grants. He also explained that he is responsible for administering the medication to the patients in the clinic, under instruction from local doctors. The clinic no only provides a place for the patients to live and rest in, but they also provide many classes that educate the tenants about preventative measures to combat spreading HIV, alcohol and drug abuse education, as well as self-esteem based workshops and the like.

The tour of the facility was a huge eye-opener for many people in our group. Perhaps one of the biggest and most surprising revelations that was shared throughout our group was gained from the interactions between us and the tenants of the clinic. Everyone was impressed by the warm reception we received, and the opportunity to interact, shake hands with, and talk to the tenants worked wonders to combat the fear and stigmata surrounding AIDS and AIDS patients.


Another part of our group visited a local soup kitchen called Missions of Charity. The mission was inspired by the influential Mother Theresa, who set up the Mission. Today the mission is run by a group of nuns from all over the world. We were fortunate enough to meet and serve to 350 male members of the local community that turned out for the meal. At the end of the experience, the group as a whole reflected about the dedication and determination that the nuns approached their service with.

The group that visited the kitchen was surprised to experience how difficult it was to serve to such a large number of people with only about a dozen volunteers. This feeling was compounded by the fact that, normally, there is only about 4 volunteers that run the kitchen, a true testament to the dedication of the nuns.

The majority of the group worked to prepare and pour the foundation of a house in the community of La Morita. The work day was the longest and most intense of the week, and few and far between were the group members that avoided being covered with cement and pushing themselves to the limit. Part of our group split up and worked to prepare a roof for an elderly woman named Gloria. They have to have the roof poured by the end of the week.

Everyone here shares an excitement to finish the work projects we started, as well as getting to know better the community members we are working with. Even though our group is a collection of people from four different parts of the United States, we have developed an incredibly strong group bond.