Week 1!! Double house Training

So today marks the last day of my first week here. I still am in awe about being here. It really hasn't sunk in yet. Since it has been a week since I've posted I guess I should go back and tell what has happened so far.

Saturday was a really long day. Up at 4:30am to get up to Midway to catch my flight. I arrived in El Paso at 3:10 and met Aubrie not long after. Janette and Jason Roth picked us up and brought us to our house. We are the only 2 girls so we are sharing the Artisan House on the Casas property. After we unloaded and got a little situated, we went to dinner with the guys that were already there. I've got to say that this summer is going to be amazing because of these people. The other interns are Andy Rausch, Aubrie Wright, Caleb Wilson, Kevin FitzGerald, Kurt Norris, Nick Loveberry, and Shane Spears. We mesh so well and it is just great! Sunday we went to church and then out to lunch. Then Aubrie and I went on a hunt for a cot. After 5 stores, we finally found one! Later in the afternoon we went to the guys' house and then decided to go for a little hike. Everything was fine going up the mountain but coming down I had a little run in with a cactus. There was a small puncture but it was bleeding a lot. That was an interesting experience. We got it all taken care of and I'm fine. It wasn't a big deal. We decided it would be good to go for a walk to Jason and Janette's. 40 min later we finally arrived. We played games and got to know each other a little better and then walked back to the guys' house in the dark. Aubrie and I then headed back home so we could sleep some before our early morning cross into Mexico.

Monday morning started off with a lot of information. What we need to do, when we need to do it, what we were going to be doing that day. Then we drove into Juarez. I started the day driving. It was crazy. We picked up the tools and headed to the S.H.O.C. (Shane Harris Outreach Center). We unloaded stuff and headed to the work site. When we got there we met, Maria de Jesus and a couple of her children. Then we started learning right away. The full time staff started doing building right away so we could learn. First thing was to build and level the form for the slab. It looked pretty level but there was one side that was a little low in the middle. We had to dig and carry a lot of dirt to level it. We had a concrete truck so pouring the slab went quick and Nick and I screaded the concrete. That was hard work. We were on the siesta schedule so we stopped after we were done with the slab. We went back the the shoc and did some more training. Tool flash cards, how to make cut sheets, and how to label boards for assembly. We went back to the site and continued to learn. We built U-Joints, headers, and corner posts. When we were done for the day, we stopped by the sponsoring pastor's church. There was a lot of dancing going on. It was great to see the people praising God. We headed back to the shoc, had dinner, and hung out.

Tuesday was just as busy. We stood the walls and learned how to level the house. Then we split into groups of 2 interns and learned black board, squaring the roof, and how to wire a house. A neighbor of Maria's, Luis, made us lunch and it was delicious. Hamburgers, chicken burritos, enchiladas, rice, and beans. We headed back to the shoc for more flash cards and wiring examples. When we got back to the site later, we learned how to do chicken wire and put on the roof and secure it. We were then again divided into groups and learned how to plate the roof, how to soffitt the roof, and wiring and hurricane ties. We also finished the insulation today. We headed back the the shoc for the night and ate dinner and sang praise songs.

Wednesday, we finished the house. We learned how to put on rolled shingles on the roof and make and apply stucco. We also learned more about wiring and how to install lights, light switches and outlets. When we had everything done, we went back to the shoc, had lunch, and cleaned and packed up. Then we went back the house for the dedication. It was so touching. A single mother of 5 got a house for her family. I was fortunate enough to be the one handing her the keys. The hug that I got crossed any barriers between us and it was a special moment. The look on her face was indescribable. It was just amazing. We headed to the border and waited in line to come back into the States. That night we headed over to Janette and Jason's for dinner and played a game and had some bonding time.

Thursday was just simply amazing. We had training in the morning and learned about all of the jobs here at Casas. We finished about 2 and had the rest of the day to ourselves. Aubrie and I went to Wal-Mart to get groceries. That place is just crazy! So many people all of the time. The guys made us dinner that night. It was a lot of fun over there. We started sharing our testimonies(we got through 3), and it was just wonderful to see how God has worked in the lives of my fellow interns. It was a real encouragement to me.

Friday started out with a staff devo. Then we had some more training because we couldn't cross the border to count our tool kits because Brandon was sick. We had training until lunch time and then Aubrie and I went to Wal-Mart because we were making dinner for the guys. When we got back, I took a nap. Aubrie went hiking with Alexis and the guys. When they got back, I had dinner ready and after dinner Aubrie did dishes. We watched a movie and then everyone was dead so we all went to bed.

Today was a lot of fun. It also marks the one week mark since I've been here. I got to sleep in and then we went to Hueco Tanks and climbed around. It was so much fun. The view from the top was breathtaking. It was also a great bonding time. After we finished there, we went back to Brandon's and grilled out. It was an awesome way to spend a Saturday and I'm tuckered out. Well that was week one. Excited for all the other weeks to come. <3

Lisa