The first bench is finished!
Manuel uses a power drill to build a table.
The first table is finalized.
Meanwhile, the sanding crew is busy preparing the wood for painting,
and removing sharp edges.
Day 4: A typical meal during our stay.
This luncheon included a salad of lettuce, cabbage,
peppers and carrots; Dominican beans and rice;
and a side dish of stewed okra.
The youth provide us with an impromptu performance, playing drums,
tambourines, and a güira (a metal idiophone also known as guayos,
or graters, because of their resemblance to the kitchen tool.)
The children are eager to use their new furniture,
even before it is painted.
Ygrenia and Arlen enjoy laughing and coloring together.
Liz has a photo opp with her new friends.
Paul cuts wood with the power saw and Liz holds it steady.
Rue helps finish the cuts in the wood which the round power blade can't
reach.
Day 5: All seven of us travel to San Cristobal to meet
with the mayor in the city government building.
Jamie and Ygrenia pose for the camera.
In order to allow time for multiple layers of paint to dry, Manuel agrees to start the
painting process at 10pm on Friday night.
Day 6: Saturday we paint the tables a bright yellow called Amarillo.
The local youth and children are enthusiastic painters!
Jamie and Marta, the local nurse who has cooked several
meals for us, help to paint the benches.
Some of the benches are painted by hand, and the rest are done
by Manuel with the sprayer, to speed the process.
The sign marking the driveway entrance to the community center area.