Bushmead Team Week 3

Week 3 was again a real blessing, which was also really packed. The final week of the team had several highlights, and lowlights. The highlights were the arrival of Charley on Monday night, Charley outside Walter and Judy's house.

more painting over graffiti, birthdays of Artu and Jose Manuel ,(children in our church and children of single mum Llida (pronounced Gilda) who works with us) Colin and Peck with Llida, her son Artu (10), daughter Joana (6), and son Jose Manuel (1)

and the on the Tuesday the birthday of my beautiful wife Anna, and building and virtually finishing Judy’s juice bar at Judy and Walter’s house. The lowlights were the departures of Dan and Jude on Friday (come back soon) and the team leaving on the Sunday and going on holiday.

Jude with Shirley 13, and her nephew Julio Cesar.

The painting was amazing time as we saw a shift in how the neighbourhood looked upon us. The people were asking who I was, the one had organised such an event, and was in charge. I noticed from this point how the neighbours have greeted me so much since this time. Also these walls have still remained clean as well.

Before and after!

Anna’s birthday was celebrated with over 22 mums, all the team, Dan and Jude, Charley, and all the children as well. Getting all the toys from the pinata a Peruvian tradition. Much more aggresive than the first day of sales!

It was a really fun event and everyone seemed to really enjoy the time together.

Singing A pea bird day toooo youuuuuuu to Anna. (read it phonetically)

Wednesday to Friday involved us getting into the Burgess van (which continues to run when it is not in the workshop)and driving the 25 minutes to Villa Salvador, a 25 year old shanty town, to the house of Walter and Judy. Floor built, but everything else to be done.

Peck had to rebuild the wall, as it had been damaged. With the help of Giancarlo they managed to build the English style wall, using Peruvian materials. Peck really grew as a leader as he did something relatively simple (for him) as building a wall, but was growing as he led Giancarlo who struggled with building a wall in a different way from he had always done before.

Peck building the toilet wall.

While Peck was building inside the rest of us were building the juice bar

outside. Daniel making sure no-one steals the sand.

This meant many of the guys learning to do carpentry, Dangerous Colin with his new toy!

more painting, and my highlight putting up a metal calamine roof. The team all raised to the challenge and we managed get so much done, and the juice bar was opened on the Sunday the week after the team had gone. It was great to see a completed job. Mission accomplished. We look forward to our next short term team, presumably next year. All offers welcome!