yesterday…

So – normally we try to get out picture updates throughout the day and a summary out at the end of the day for work trips. But yesterday took “work trip” to a whole new level. We got as far as taking pictures – but to actually get them out to Facebook or to the blog was just one step too many.

We had three main projects going on:

Dan Klein & his son Kevin worked on replacing a window with a door (to help The Fallout building meet fire code). They were successful – though there was a touchy moment there when the door might have been hung to swing the wrong way. Crisis averted, all is well, and folks can now easily egress via the back of the building thanks to a ton of hard work from Lori and others to clear out the hallway.

The Source has a new once-foreclosed-upon house that will be joining to their transitional housing network – it’s pink and is decorated with dolphins, flamingoes and cranes, so another group worked at “The Crane House”. Ryan and Sara worked on drywalling inside, while Jeremiah, Christy, Mike, Messiah, Alyssa, Myster, and Nate worked on hauling, making and pouring cement for a sidewalk and digging post holes. They made it! By the end of the day the cement was covered to protect it from the coming frost and the posts were mounted and aligned and ready for the next stage of a storage shed project.

A third large-ish group worked on building a wheelchair ramp into the Art Coop building. That may not sound like a big deal, but the ramp needed to loop through a deep alley so needed a significant support structure in order to be set up correctly. Todd was crew boss for that project with a great deal of help from Tom – and they were joined by Lori, Jake, Ramiro, Antonio, Nick, Ryan, Alyssa, Myster, Messiah and Angela. A bunch of folks circled around and helped with additional projects here and there, pitching in where ever it was needed. Mike’s nephew Walker joined in as well – he’s been on other trips with us so it was neat to see and work with him again. After an 11-ish hour work day, (added to all the setup work from Friday), the ramp was installed! It still needs a railing and finishing, but all things considered it was quite an accomplishment.

The exhausted group packed up the trailer and headed to the Y for showers, followed by supper at Pancho Villa – a restaurant near The Source that has become a favorite. At around 10:30 we headed back to The Fallout where Peter shared a bit about the history of The Source, as well as the story of how they came to acquire the Crane House. Then it was back to the church and it wasn’t long before the building was dark and quiet.

Ladies of the Afghan World

Written by Tate, told by Angela.

My work assignment this week was teaching English to two Afghani women. Hannah came with me three of the four days and really helped with their children while we tutored. Each day I learned more about them as they learned colors, money, time, and household objects. On Thursday, as we were getting ready to go, we were asked to stay for a meal. As we entered into another apartment, it was immaculant and beautiful with gorgeous rugs and lovely wall paintings. They spread a cloth on the floor. On it placed marinated chickens,cucumber tomato salad, a pasta bean dish, chilled cans of sprite, and amazing afghani naan (There's a better name but I can't think of it).






I was humbled and over whelmed by their generosity. As who knows how difficult it was to get the groceries (neither of them has a car) or how much of their living income it cost them. All week long when we asked them questions they would answer as best they could. When we were talking after this meal however, they became very animated. As we admired their home and cooking they told us " In Afghanistan, no cook, no clean, no husband." They even stood up to tell us " Husband, mom visit to see this one cook. This one clean. If no cook, no clean, no husband. No read, write, ok. No cook, no clean, no husband." I think they were saying, they had all the necessary skills to be successful adults where they came from. Here the rules have changed and they're having to adapt quickly to a different set of circumstances.

I love the chance to get to know them a little bit and to help them transition into this country. Most of all I am so glad that New City is here long term to be apart of their lives. It's such a privilege to be able to help a little and know that it's a apart of something bigger.

Location:North Hodiamont