In doing some community service, the entire GFM MTS went to the Agencia to work with the locals. The Agencia is our colonia's something like a recreation center. We were working on constructing a new building. Before any construction could be done, however, there was a pile of rocks (and by rocks I mean boulders) that we had to move. This mound was about 4 feet high and about 25 feet long. We moved these rocks and also moved the dirt in between them into separate 'rooms' in order to fill up some of the spaces with dirt and rocks rather than concrete, which would save money. It took us hours in the morning...we took about four 'Coke breaks' by suggestion of the Mexicans with whom we were working. We had some lunch, and then started on the NEXT huge mound of rocks and dirt. That day I did the most exhausting, toughest physical work of my life as of yet! We were all tired and filthy--and to top it off, Heather and I were in the midst of an annoying cold, so we were schlepping back to the truck bed every few minutes to get another cough drop and blow our noses with the two rolls of toilet paper we had brought for such purposes. The most exciting part of the day had to be when I found a centipede on the ground. It intrigued me, as it was a vibrant blue color, and as I asked if it was poisonous, I bent over and touched it with my index finger. The Mexicans around me, seeing what was going on, were shouting advisory warnings such as, "don't touch that!" "that is poisonous!" "those have killed men!" "it could kill you!" BUT, I was not comprehending any of these cautions spoken in Spanish. When someone finally translated the messages, it was too late, and I had touched it. I lived in fear for about ten minutes thinking that at any minute I could be taken ill and die! But after a short amount of time had passed, and I wasn't dead, I considered myself safe.
More highlights to come...
