Back to the mountains I went. For three days this time (and two nights) to continue digging a huge hole. The week before, the others had gotten pretty deep, but the boss said it still needed to be deeper. So we packed up our stuff and headed back to the mountains of Bolivia. I was super excited to return. To get away from the city. Be in the mountains. And get some relaxation time (after the work though).
We left Cochabamba around 6:15am. Can you say early? We arrive in Cuena around 8:30am and begin to get ready to work. The first plumbing pipe I move, I cut my finger. A band-aid wouldn’t stay with all the digging and the next option? You guessed it super glue. For the rest of the day I have a super glue bandage on my cut. We dig for the morning. Alternating pick ax-ers (Emily and Steven) with shovel-ers (Sam and Me).
In the afternoon we actually got a break from working when all these kids showed up out of nowhere. There were probably more than 100. The girls circled around and we began to play jump rope with them. It was a lot of fun and my favorite part was probably when Emily got them all to chant “Gringo Gringo” in order for Sam and me to jump some. That night cutting lettuce for our tacos, I missed the leaf and got my thumb instead. The same thumb as I cut earlier. What luck is that.
Sam and I playing jump rope with all the kids
Wednesday we wake up ready for more work. Since band-aids didn’t stay on my thumb. And super glue didn’t hold. We had to come up with a new idea. Panty Liners. We cut one into 4ths and then wrapped it around my thumb and then put a band-aid. It was pretty much like a cast. Working 9am-12pm is enough for us. We got deeper in the hole with every pick and every shovel full. After lunch, it’s raining and we decide to relax for awhile. At 4pm. It is time to hike.
Behind the camp where we are staying there is this mountain with a couple of crosses on it. We decided we were going to make it to the top of it. And so we set off. We had our guide dog Goldie, who as soon as he got too far ahead of us, Steven and I found a different trail (or you can say we got lost) and by the time we looked up, we were way behind the mountain we needed to be on. So across these hills (and some house farm land) we went in order to make it to the mountain. We eventually made it and got to see the great view of the whole town and the lake.
Me and my puppy Goldie at the top of the mountain
Thursday was our last morning to work. And so we set off. My thumb cast from yesterday was getting a little weak. The answer now? Duct tape. I put duct tape all around the panty liner in order for it to stay on my thumb while I am digging away the dirt. After about a hour, the hole was getting so deep and energy was running low, little dirt was making it out of the hole. Motivation went down the drain. By the time we finished we had the hole at 6 feet. Craziness. To know that we were able to start at ground level and dig down 6 feet is insane. We really did dig our own grave.
Emily, Sam and I in our finished hole
It was a physically tough week. But there was something that kept me going. Knowing that as soon as the plumbing was finished for these houses, kids can move in. And there is great need for the orphanages in Cuena. Usually with construction ministry, it is hard to see the fruit of your labor. It is difficult to see the purpose when you are not there for the end product and you are tired from the long hours you put in.
But with this, the end product is soon. My team dug a 6ft hole for a septic tank. And as soon as the rest of the pipes are in and the septic tank is in place, some kids will have a home! How exciting is that? If we had not come, the hole would not be dug and it would be even longer for the homes to be ready. But now because we spent time and energy in the mountains, kids will be able to have a new home in a month!
It doesn’t matter the amount of super glue, duct tape and panty liners I have to use if it means some orphans will soon have a new home to live in. Praise the Lord.
Me and my lovely duct tape and panty liner cast
