Team Leader Challenges, Curtains ,and Zumba

Wednesday, October 16

We left Alexis in Beards Fork to sleep and recover.  Arriving at the rehab house we found the mother asleep, no SALS crew anywhere in site.  While the team( now fondly renamed the DOTS) rearranged furniture and hung the curtains they had made, Artie and I discovered that Ralph, the crew boss had spent the night in the emergency room, no crew would be arriving.  Thus, team leader challenge number one for the day:  Global volunteers work in partnership with the local host and volunteers, and do not work if there are no local team members present.   So I reminded Artie of this, and said the team could not stay, then I had to tell the team.  They took the disappointing news In stride, and we headed to Oak Hill School to talk to the construction boss, Vicky and to tour the school.

Our stop in Beards Fork on the way to Oak Hill, brought team leader challenge number 2:  Alexis had been rudely awakened by the sounds of raucous sex in one of the dorm rooms, she was quite shaken up and upset, although physically she was feeling better.  After taking a very deep breath, I found Artie, and made it clear:  the  Youth build member involved would leave the dorm immediately, and turn in his keys.  Artie blanched when he heard the story, sighed, and set out to remedy the situation.

Vicky impressed the DOTS with her vision for the old school as a community center and feeding program.  As we toured, I was amazed by the progress since the summer of 2012.  The refurb is almost done, there are tenants on the first floor, several community and private events have been held, and hundreds of hungry have been fed.  The curtains made by my prior team hang proudly, and the tiled rooms have held up well.

Back in Beards Fork, the DOTS were greeted warmly by the after school crowd, quickly enveloped by homework and indoor recess.  After finishing up dinner(and one members new match.com profile), we headed for Zumba.  Under the direction of Mercedes, we jumped and danced: Hip hop meets Zumba in the Holler.

On a note from home, my mother Iris tripped in NYC last evening suffering a broken nose and knee.  Luckily she was with my siblings. Carol and Donald, who braved the night in the emergency room to insist that she got the care she needed.  Carol has been by her side all day, trying to make sense of all the comings and goings and making sure her pain is well controlled.  She will likely need a short stay in rehab before she can go home.

Despite this weeks challenges, at the mid way point the DOTS remain upbeat and pleased with what they have accomplished so far.  Last year I learned that generosity comes in many forms, and this year I have learned about the power of tolerance and compassion.