Getting the Word Out

A Visit from the Women of Getsemani Co-Op

The Getsemani Co-Op (local spelling) was formed with the help of Thrivent several years ago.  They now help each other make and sell a variety of goods, plus they make micro loans.  They typically provide our noontime meals at the work site, they visit us with their things to sell during the week, and come to the Thank-You event on the Friday concluding our work week.

Left to right, Beti, Dinora (Co-Op Head), Griselda (soap), and Verilise.

The goods sold by the Co-Op are all locally produced from natural products like seeds and plants.  Pictured are bracelets, necklaces, and soaps.  The soaps are new, and consist of versions that include coffee, chocolate, lemon zest, or coconut.  They hope to be set up on a web page by next year so orders can be placed on line.  We ordered our coffee from them to bring back to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Champaign, IL.  You can buy a bag in the Narthex for $10.  In addition, Marilyn has some earrings that you can buy.  Profits go back to the Co-Op.

Dean and Adriana, who remember each other from last year.  Though obviously adorable, Adriana is also fun and funny.  She is Beti's niece.

Adriana laughs easily, and Lorraine made her laugh a lot.

Adriana is not a giggler; instead, she laughs boisterously.

Marilyn, Adriana, and Lorraine engage in drawing with colored pencils, a very clever idea brought by Nicki, which the kids all liked very much.

Remember Beanie Babies?  We had some to give away to kids, and we gave Adriana a duck.  Flor insisted that it would be hilarious if we told Adriana that the duck was named "Pollo", the Spanish word meaning "chicken".

Flor was exactly right, and Adriana thought "Pollo" was just terrific.

 Our group with the Co-Op Women, and their kids.

Construction Photos

We brought the house to the point of having floors poured, the roof put on, and the final coat of paint applied.  We look forward to seeing the completed home some day.

 How things started out Monday, August 7, 2017.  Julio, head mason, tells us what we will be doing all week.

The result at the end of the week is a structure ready for floors, a roof, and paint.

 

The Friday Aftenoon Thank-You Party

Every year, Habitat concludes the work week with an event where they invite the masons, the volunteers, some Habitat staff, plus the Co-Op ladies to enjoy lunch and a party that always includes kids and a Pinata.

Francisco and Josua.

Bris looking on.

Vanessa, Francis, and head mason, Julio.

Francis, plus some ladies from the Women's Co-Op, named Gethsemane.  Dinora, Lolita, and Beti are pictured, left to right.

Francis, Jim, and Julio (head construction mason).

Alex (mason #2) presents Dean with a thank-you certificate.  Just that very morning, we worked together on the job site.

AJ and Lolita, from the Co-Op.

Francisco (from the family) and Bob.

Francisco and Alex.

Jaquline and Deb.

Nicki and Dinora, head of the Gethsemane Women's Co-Op.

Marilyn and Beti, from the Co-Op.

Angela and Jackie (from the family).

Lorraine and Jackie.

Jim, Group Leader, and Julio, Head Mason.

The pinata causes a ruckus, as Oscar, mason #3, looks on below.

 

Habitat Office Visit in Santa Ana

The Habitat Office in Santa Ana, run by Ana Maria Montoya, was recently remodeled, and looks better than ever.

Francis is incredibly productive from her tiny desk at Habitat Headquarters.

The wall says, "A world where everyone has a decent place to live".

Lorraine, AJ, Jim.

Jim, Ana, Francis.

The truck says at the bottom, "Building neighborhoods, community, and hope", a slogan we have seen on Habitat tee shirts.

 The intake office at Habitat, where someone was being processed into the system.