Slept like a log(nothing like a little chemical help for the first night). Awoke to a cool humid day with low clouds, after some initial cleanup and organizing, headed out for a walk up the Holler. Colors starting to change, houses decorated for Halloween, and many of the same people ( and dogs) from last year. More laundry for towels and sheets, then on our way to the airport for the first pick up.
Eileen arrived on time fromN yC where she is a psych nurse, and a veteran Global volunteer , she went to Peru in 2012. With some time to kill, we discovered Taylor's bookstore and cafe, and spent a lovely hour browsing and having a coffee. Back to the airport to pick up the rest of the team: four friends from California(retired teachers) and Alexis, a nurse from Oregon(also an experienced Global Volunteer from the Cook Islands. ) In the van on the way back to Beards Fork, the gang started to coalesce into a team.
For what is now becoming a tradition, work started on spaghetti , sauce, bread and salad. Just as we were to sit down, Artie announced the surprise call: another team member at the airport! Looking at each other in surprise, we immediately invoked the F word( you know what that means). Artie gave up on dinner, I did more laundry, rearranged rooms and mattresses, and two hours later we happily welcomed our last member, Marianne, from New York. The team gave her a warm welcome and update, discussed plans for tomorrow, and now all are off to bed.
Once again I marvel at the huge generosity( these women say they came here to give and to work) of mind and spirit of those who choose to serve,
Keeping flexibility front and center,
Barbara
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