On Saturday I went on a hike with some other volunteers to the Largest Crater in South America! It is called Pululahua Crater and it was formed by a volcano. It was super foggy when we went so I don't have any really nice pictures but here is one from Google Images to give you an idea (:
Today Julie, Krisin, David, Alexis, and I signed up for a Minga at the Soto's house (Not to be biased but they are probably one of my favorite families at the Center (: (: ) We left our house at 6:20 a.m., got to La Marin by 7:00, met the other volunteers doing the Minga, and bused 1 more hour south to the Soto's home. They had recently bought a new plot of land a little higher up in the mountain and the foundation was already poured. We had to move a pile of dirt about 5 ft high and 30 ft long! It was a lot of hard work but super fun! I enjoyed this Minga a lot more than the first one because it was a mix of us volunteers and then other members of the Center whereas the first time it was only us volunteers. I raced one of my students, Darwin, to see who could fill, run, and empty their buckets of dirt the fastest. We also had a great lunch together afterwards and then I had a great nap on the long bus ride home (:
Gretty Soto on the far left wearing the awesome white fur vest while we made chocolate covered raisins in Girls Program.
Cassandra Soto on the right with her friend Karen after they "borrowed" my camera for the afternoon and had a photo shoot in the bathroom.
Jefferson Soto (front right) in art class working hard when we made decorations for the Center's birthday party.
Tatiana Soto (again when someone was "borrowing" my camera for a photo shoot) striking a super cool pose during our last study hall party.
David and Julie took lots of pictures of their actual house & the giant pile of dirt so I will post some more photos soon (: Hasta Entonces
Wow, Mere...Wisconsin is going to seem downright boring when you get home! I am so blown away every time you post something...and humbled, too. I hope you know how proud of you we all are. What you are doing there is truly a blessed thing! Things here are fine, though everyone is gone! Uncle Patric is on business in the Philippines, the Burgamys and Stoph and Kirk's parents all went to the mountains to snowboard for a couple of days. I will have popcorn for dinner...my favorite!! Love you, Meredith...keep the posts coming! (And I am glad you are still in one piece from the crater expedition!) xoxo Aunt Coleen
ReplyDeleteHi Mere
ReplyDeleteHas your Mom ever told you about all of our crater expeditions when we lived in the Valley?
I don't think it was formed by a volcano, but you do come from a long line of crater hikers.
Great post!
Xoxo
Aunt Cathy
Hi hi hi Mere! When will you be signing up for a minga at my house? I have lots of weeds and dirt that you can move this summer!
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a great weekend and I'm looking forward to your next post. :)
HI Mere
ReplyDeleteWOW what a terrific experience! I am always so interested to read what you're doing and especially the lives you are impacting! And yes, I had some harrowing crater experiences with Aunt Cathy....I'll tell you all about it when you get home!
xoxoxoxo
Mom