Buenos días, la familia y amigos!

Yesterday concluded our second work day, and boy it a long (but rewarding) day! We started our morning with a breathing exercise and meditation down by the lake. It was a great way to take in the scene and sounds as we prepared for our day.

Team Shelby split into 2 groups to work on different projects based on the needs of the San Lucas community. Both groups worked on the structures of two different wood-framed houses. The day was sunny and hot but both groups finished the morning with some new skills,  memories, and sun burn. 

After lunch and showers, our group joined back together to visit the Women's Center today. We got to experience a Day-In-the-Life of a Guatemalan woman and man. Here we learned how make tortillas over an open fire, wash clothes without the luxury of a washing machine, and bundle and carry 50lbs of fire wood. This was an eye opening experience as we continue to see the vast amount of skills the people of Guatemala have. 

Team Shelby concluded the day with an amazing video on Fr. Greg and his creation of the mission. This video showed us the impact both Fr. Greg and the mission had on the community and people of San Lucas. Each of the projects that the mission nurtures was explained in this video. We had the opportunity to see some of the history of the mission, the influence of the Catholic religion, and the importance of the work we came to do. 

We are about to start our Ash Wednesday with some gardening in the morning. This afternoon we will be heading to a neighboring community to see our own, Fr. Michael conduct mass. Following, we will have the opportunity to join the community with a celebration of Ash Wednesday- San Lucas style. Please stay tuned to find out about our day today!

*To the moms and dads reading the blog enters this week; you can be very proud of your kids and the service they are doing for others. They have meshed well and are enjoying the newly forming relationships. They have directed their energies to serving and learning and are growing immensely as people. Thank you for guiding them to make the important decision of dedicating their spring break to serve and live in community with others. It is a good week.

- Ashley Faulkner; accompanier