Day Four

We've been working in a community outside of Tijuana the past couple of days. We have nearly finished the walls of one house, with the help of the group from WWU which poured cement into the frame. The other home nearby is also nearing completion of the construction phase as the roof was poured yesterday. It's really fascinating: The cement houses don't seem like an sort of luxury to U.S. standards, but in comparison to the modge-podge housing around it, it is a vast improvement. Most of the homes are piecemeal configurations of old doors, wood siding, draped tarps, and other random scraps. I don't know if they have running water. They are sitting on the bare ground. In observing the surroundings I felt even more attached to the goals of Esperanza in uniting communities of Tijuana with U.S. volunteers to improve the livelihood of these communities. Our role as volunteers is little more than physical labor, as the local communities have done the necessary prep work and will continue after we are gone. But our presence and the relationship that we establish with families as part of Esperanza is a greater statement.

I need to write about our visit to the border day before yesterday. We have just been busy and I haven't found the time or energy. I'm sunburned and sleepy. My body aches soooo goooood. I love the physical labor! Today we are going to visit the health clinic situated at the base of the Tijuana garbage dump. It will be another learning experience about some of the social justice issues facing Tijuana and Esperanza.

In peace,

aly