The Team visits Sagrada Familia for Susana's 18th birthday

On Thursday afternoon, October 28, 

the team visited the temporary digs for the Sagrada Familia teens.
They now live on the second floor of San Lucas Mission
until the new place is ready in February.

It was an extra special day as it was Susana's birthday. 

She is the first female in the casas to turn 18.

Martha, the tutora, holds the cake while 

Susana extinguishes her candle.

The team bought her a carrot cake from Capriccios.

Those who have visited Arequipa before

know that spells YUMMY.

Several of the girls put on special dances for the Texas team.

Here the birthday girl (R) and Giovana put on a nice show.

Giovana, Victoria, and Arelis put on another dance.

Arelis really likes to dance, sing, and play piano.

Shown here is the whole team

along with Deacon Juan Ayala

and Sandy Johnson, local teams coordinator.

Construction Day 4 - mixing concrete

Having erected all 20 columns on Wednesday,

the team got down to the serious business of mixing concrete

and hauling it to each column.

Each team member was asked to put his name

on a column.  Later a small plaque will be placed 

with their name beside each column. 

Craig and Freddy pose by Craig's column.

Some of the first concrete gets poured into a hole.

Large rocks are placed into the hole

before concrete is added.

Some rocks were TOO big to lift easily.

So, the guys busted them into smaller pieces.

Johnny, the animal, gets a workout loading 5 gallon buckets

of sand & gravel mix into the concrete mixer.

Several guys helped him by loading the buckets.

Anthony hauls a wheelbarrow load of concrete

to a distant hole.

Deacon Juan Ayala chips in by helping haul 

large rocks to the holes.

Quite a pile of rocks to choose from.

The team donated just over $3000 for supplies.

This went for rebar and for cement mix.

Shown here is the delivery of rebar.

Anthony hauls a fresh load of concrete.

Construction Day 3 -- raising the columns

On Wednesday October 27, the Christ Church team's task
was to locate the 20 columns of re-bar into the holes in the ground.

Here the columns are being stacked on the ground

 until they are ready to raise them. 

The corner column is being raised into position.

Lowering the column into the hole.



A view of all 20 columns which were erected in one day.

Our dear brother Freddy has been a great guy to work for.

Johnny and Freddy take a rest break.

During a break, the team checks out the great views 

from the roof of the Casa Hogar Sagrada Familia.

On Wednesday evening, 

the team went to Cristo Redentor's midweek service.

Construction Team Day 2

They thought they had finished the big water storage tank at the site, But Freddy said they can get a full tanker truck of water for the same price as a partial delivery.  So the guys made a BIGGER pool.  

Back at it on Tuesday morning

making the hole deeper and wider.

 All the dirt that comes out has to go somewhere.

Our version of Mutt and Jeff ---

Freddy and Craig. 

Finally the hole is finished.

Then they replace the lining.

Then the tanker truck came

and filled up the new pool.

It's probably about 4000 gallons.

The team was asked to move some heavy rocks

to be part of the foundation mix with cement.

Here they use the "bucket brigade" method.

NEW CLOTHES!

Thanks to the team from Christ Church, the 

children were treated to new clothes!

 The boys were soooo excited!

 And girls everywhere love to go shopping,

even if it is in the living room of your own house!

 Happy campers Wilbur and Juan Diego!

 A smile from Martita

 Pamela and Jimena love their new things!

As does Yasmin

A Visit to San Jose by the Christ Church Team

 Monday, October 25th, the members of the construction team

from Christ Church, Plano, TX, visited the younger children's

home, Casa Hogar San Jose.  It was a blessing for everyone!

 Such a beautiful drive out there....

and the kids are ready and waiting to 

give a warm welcome to the guys!

Tio Alejandro serves as a translator between the English and Spanish speakers

Each of the children tell the team information about themselves

 Tamara shares...

and our newest resident and Quechua speaker,

 Martita, is beginning to learn some Spanish

 Wilbur

Estrella

 The children have prepared two songs for the team - "Que Maravilla" 

 (how wonderful to be a family in Christ) and "El Espiritu de Dios"

The team has brought many gifts for the kids to their delight!

 Tamara and Tio Juan

 Isela is fascinated by this new toy

And adults and children alike had fun just playing!

 Two up and coming soccer stars, Juan Diego and Wilbur

The new basketball hoop was a big hit!

 The children warmed up quickly to the team...

 Jimena and Pamela with Tios Andres (Craig) and Juan

 Tio Antonio with Martita

And Wilbur with Tio Brent

 Sharing his basketball skills endears Tio Andres

 to Rosa, Pamela, and Estrella

The whole group poses for a photo

 Tia Gloria with the fifth-grade girls, Estrella, Yasmin, and Rosa

 Despedidas (good-byes) are always hard!