The cafeteria decorated and in full swing.
Mardch 11, 2010
Richard bounced from demo to painting site and worked hard when he could.
Jessica was sobbing and Dillon’s eyes were filled with tears. The big pizza party was over; we had shared gifts with our families, including photos and small tokens of our appreciation. Our bodies, tired and sore; our hearts content but saddened. So many emotions flooding through us as we try to process all that we have experienced during the last week.
It didn’t seem possible in the morning that we would actually get the demo work done – or at least the work assigned to our team. The inspectors had come yesterday, and while we waited with baited breath to see if we would be allowed to continue, Richard made plans to unleash most of the men to help knock out the painitng of the five school rooms. Patrick was a God-send, taking charge of the room preparation and getting up extra early to finish spackling and sanding. The painting – after three long days of washing walls, sanding walls, spackling walls, taping windows, sweeping rooms – went quickly. By lunch we had 75% of it done! That was about the time that the rented jackhammer arrived. Richard called off the painting crew and reassigned them up at the demo house. By the end of the day, the concrete slab floors in the house were done! Patrick and Richard came dragging up the hill, a smile on their faces for a job well done.
Then it was nearly time to get the cafeteria ready for the pizza party. We shifted our tired gears and got into a festive mood, blowing up colorful balloons and hanging streamers. By 6:00 p.m. the room was transformed into a happy place. The children lined up outside the door and in one fell swoosh ran through the “victory arch of volunteer arms”.
Dillon and Jessica racing balloons with rulers at the pizza party
A feast of pizza, cola and ice cream followed, not the usually healthy fare that the Home provides. Gerardo, the head athletic director, led the roomful of adults and children is songs and cheers. The noise was deafening and the most pleasant sound imaginable. Even the shy and withdrawn children, those who hadn’t smiled much during the week, were participating with squeals of laughter and joy. Playing “Hot Sombrero”, sort of like musical chairs and hot potato combined, was a highlight. So was the racing balloon rulers. When we get to share the photos, a lot of this will make sense.
At the end of the evening, house parents shared cards with us that they had made with the children. And then they prayed over us. What an experience!
One house, however, had several children who were “in consequences” and so didn’t get to attend the festivities. It was heart wrenching for Lois and Kathleen not be be able to say good-bye to these children, but knowing that the standards of discipline are the most important for ensuring long-range emotional health for these children made it a little easier. The children have to learn what it takes to be successful at the Roblealto home. Setting and enforcing boundaries is the reason Roblealto works as well as it does. In fact, the model for running a foster home of this magnitude is being used by the government! Watching the details in action – like keeping a child from a party that s/he has been looking forward to all week because of inappropriate or bad behavior – is an emotional experience. The payback to this approach is down the road, but fruitful payback it will most certainly be. It takes a lot of patience and restraint – and constant prayer – the very backbone of Roblealto.
The house moms showing off the bags made the Sewing Circle at WCPC
Tomorrow we go to the city and see the other important Roblealto program: the day care centers….
Wow! What an amazing week you’ve all had. I have so enjoyed seeing all the pictures and reading about all you’re doing each day, re-living many of the same experiences Steve and I had from going last year. All of you have been a God send to the house parents and children in Roblealto. Prayers for a safe trip back home.