the last two weeks

Forgive me for not writing more frequently. For better or worse, things seem to be becoming more and more routine down here. Day to day the stories I used to find new and different, are becoming more normal. I believe that this is a good thing. However, to anyone reading it’s provides less and less to write about. However, I’ll try to summarize what’s been happening the last couple weeks.
The few days after I returned to St. Innocent’s, were filled with a lot of futbol, and hanging out with the boys. All the boys were off for two weeks, some a little bit longer than that. So the few days they were off after I came back, I tried to spend as much of it as possible with them. This definitely helped with the Spanish to say the least.
This past week was spent getting ready for the groups coming on Thursday and Friday. Thursday, a group from Florida came down. The leader of the group is actually a friend of mine, Mero. I had met him in Montreal a few years ago. It was cool, because, his mother and two sisters had come in the group as well, so I got to meet almost his entire family. Mero himself wasn’t able to come until Friday morning. I went and picked him up from the airport, and we were able to catch up a bit on the drive down into Mexico and to the work site.
Friday we were able to stucco a second layer on a house that had been built this past summer. The family we helped were very grateful. The mother and two daughters tried to help us whenever they could. I was able to talk with the two little girls and hear what they were doing in school. I put one of them on my shoulders and then the other girl wanted a ride too. The sound of the girls’ laughter was one of the purest sounds of joy I’ve ever heard. It amazes me sometimes how much we take for granted. The simple things in life, these children took such great pleasure from.
In the evening we had a group come from St. Andrews in Riverside, CA. Those who have read since I arrived may remember me mentioning the Sunday I drove up there in September. The community up there is really inspiring, and Fr. Josiah, Kh. Catherine and their entire family are amazing. Speaking of which, Aiden, Victoria, and Anastasia Trenham were among the group. Saturday both groups worked side by side on two different houses. The chapel was very full that night as we all gathered for Vespers. Following dinner the Riverside group returned up to the states.
Sunday we celebrated a reader’s service with the sad absence of Fr. Michael and the family. Afterwards, Madi, Deanna, the group and I went out into Rosarito for the afternoon. Going through the shops was nice, but it was very sobering to see two women sitting outside asking for a nickel or two. I can spend a dollar or two with out giving it a second thought, when a dollar or two could make their day.
Returning back to the ranch, we had a debriefing for the group. After dinner and evening prayers we headed down to the campfire. I pulled out my guitar and played a bit as the group’s final night faded away like the sparks from the fire.
After the group left Monday the rains came, and since then it hasn’t really stopped. We’re having another El Nino year here and for the next couple weeks we should have quite a bit of rain. Driving in the mud is a lot of fun for sure, but here the rain might as well be a blizzard. Everything stops down in Mexico when it rains, especially if you live off the pavement. I had to run out and do a couple jobs, not even five minutes out there and I was soaked to the bone. Yet as I escaped into my room, and took a nice hot shower I realized how lucky I was. Minutes away people couldn’t escape the cold, in their huts put together with cardboard and boards. The water they couldn’t keep out would create a muddy mess in their dirt floors. Yet here I was complaining?