Day 3: The One Where They Gave Us Machetes

I accidentally slept through my alarm today, but it worked out well because Tony wasn't there to start the devos. Rosita read one of hers before breakfast, and then after breakfast the work day begun.

I started in one of the fields picking up sticks, but then Tony gave me, Bethany, and Amie machetes and redirected us to clear the brush around the sugar cane plants. This is a little comical, because Amie & I were told by our Swazi contacts month 3 to never go into the brush by sugar cane fields because that is precisely where snakes like to hide and make their homes. But it's month 11 right? Of course we're pro's at this kind of stuff.

After we cleared the land, we found out we were also supposed to clear the trees in the area, so we cut them down with the machetes. I think by that point we were delusional–saying things like "oh, of course we're cutting down the trees now." These are things that if you told me I'd be doing a year ago (okay, let's be honest, a month ago) I would have laughed in disbelief.

Once we cut the trees, we found out we had to strip the trees and make mulch. My mind went to a vague memory of a machine that makes mulch, maybe even a lawnmower, but people in most other places of the world make mulch using the machete. So that kept us occupied for a good amount of time, until it started to rain. I chatted with Sharisse until lunch (she's allergic to grass and is working on planning children's programs while we're working outside, in case you were wondering where our fifth team member has been!).

After lunch, Amie and I went out to the pile of fertilizer to finish the bolsitas (little bags). The pause in hard labor gave us time to reflect exactly on how overwhelmed we are. Therefore, while we were jamming out to Mariah Carey and DMB with our machetes in the field earlier, after lunch the response to what music we should play was an exasperated "anything worship." We needed something to fill us up while we were filling up bags (200 by the days end). We ended up having an unforgettable conversation where I ended up breaking down in tears in the middle of the field (which NEVER happens, mind you).

Things are starting to go crazy here in CR…

Oh, and for dinner, we had spaghetti pancakes with beans and rice. Of course!