We had an unorganized breakfast, where we just ate randomly. Today was the first day that we went out to a site. Despite it being our first day, we were given the opportunity to literally top off a house. We joined a family, their friends, and relatives to put the roof on their new main structure. It was quite an amazing experience to share with them the last major stage of their new home.
We were able to finish it in 10 sec flat because we are that good, we struggled at first with people such as Akbar who was unable to lift a single bucket over his head; nonetheless, Bri stepped up with the bulging biceps and did what needed to be done. As buckets flew, sweat poured down our backs and the sun beamed down our Arnold Schwarzenegger backs, we continued to finish the family's home while knowing that we were doing something special on a stranger danger person's life.
We were reward for our selfless action with AMAZINGLY good, liver, that's right I said LIVER. Matias ate 6 while Hobbes fell behind and only ate 5. Everyone seemed to enjoy the lunch, knowing that it was cooked with love, but still unaware that an Argentinian was in their presence.
After completing the roof, our group went down the street to help another community family create cinder blocks. The family pressed sand and water to create the perfect blocks which would fit together to create their home. It was a rare treat to be able to witness the process, and to realize how much effort goes into building these houses in total. Every aspect of building these houses takes preparation and attention to fine detail.
Next, the group was invited to visit the home of a family whose house was built by Esperanza eight years ago by the New York members. The family was touched, and seemed just as emotional about the hard work and love that had been poured into their home as the day it was finished. Tears of joy were shed and the wife of the family reminisced with group members whom she had held close to her heart for all of these years. We were able to tour the house and view it as an example of what a completed home looks like. There were two bedrooms and and a living room/kitchen area which were painted in a fresh pink. The home was comfortable and cool, and had personality and character. It was clear what a bond had been formed between two cultures when we noticed the framed picture of an Esperanza volunteer sitting on the families front table along side a child's diploma and family portraits.
After work, we visited a migrant home. It was an amazing place filled with a lot of love from the people that were temporarily staying there. We learned about the shelter, how it is ran, and the people who stay there. They fed us dinner alongside the migrants who were there. A lot of them had stories of crossing the border and getting caught. Others, lived in the States for almost 20 years before getting deported back to Tijuana. They were inviting and open of our presence and were kind enough to give us a tour of the shelter. It is a well kept place that can fit up to 100 migrants. The volunteers who work there are supportive and helpful to the migrants, they let them know that they are not alone as well as educating them. They give them back hope and self esteem to help them get back on their feet. Many of them have traveled or been deported hundreds of miles with little food or sleep. It was great to learn about the people there and their stories. During this whole time though, Micheal decided to always stay behind and talk to people while we continue to tour around. We almost got him to get a hair cut over there so that he was able to share more of his hair to other families, but we were moving on and we didn't want to cut in line.
As we experience such a wonderful day, it wasn't always so wonderful with danger approaching at every corner. The Mexican mafia and the drug dealers chasing us at every step, but there was hope, for Cerealbar (AKA Akbar) and Ty (AKA Matias) were on the look out for these dangerous people and Ninja them away from our precious group that we love so much. At the end of the day, the Mexican mafia and the drug dealers decided to call us and wished to surrender and that is how Matias and Akbar saved the day.
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