CHWT (Chica Hogar Work Team)
short term teams working at girls\’ safe house in Chile

Hola from Osorno - our last full day of work here.

The playhouse received a fabric roof and fireman’s pole, which required some digging out of a hole and cement; the chicas have been told to stay off for at least one day, but we will see.

Dan has been repairing wall tile and replacing rusted out shower curtain rods, while Jefe has been sweating copper and hooking up the in line water heater in the teaching kitchen - it passed the Jefe water pressure test!  Gary just needs to hook up the vent for it and test fire it.  Anika put the second coat of blue and white paint on tia Marcellas house out back.  Felipe did some
more pruning and put up the rain gutter over their front door.  Kyleigh was helping out where ever she could and playing with the chicas - she is a very hard worker.

One of the Hogars success stories is Crystal and Cati, they are living with a local christian business man and his wife; the two chicas are around 14 and 17 and they are studious, happy and spreading the Gospel when ever they can.  They came to visit  today and I showed them photos from way back in 2002.

We have been overwhelmed by the thankfullness and encouragement from the chicas and staff; we will be deprived of the constant hugs and kisses.  This a beautiful country; last night we saw how the rich and the poor live here in Osorno.  Most live pay check to paycheck here, while 1% have lots of stuff and 20% scratch to survive.  We did see the current box on stilts that the family lives in who the kids at Redeemer raised funds to buy a house for.  Gary said it is in process and the father has turned his life around.  Their abode is on stilts backed up to a hill, surrounded by other casas in the same style.

Thank you for all your support and encouragement,

love,

Kyleigh, Anika, Ruth, Dan, Jeff and Felipe
CHWT 2009

 

 Last work day in Chile [4:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (118)

Hola, it was cold today and windy with temps in the mid 60’s

The play house has the rope ladder and climbing rope attached - little trouble find a slide even close to what we need.  Jefe has been busy sweating copper to hook up a in line water heater for the teaching kitchen, Dan has been building a backdoor set of steps with the kittens help, Felipe finished up the ceiling for the green modulo and started the ceiling for the one we are in.  A little  tree pruning was done and lots of time spent playing with the chicas.

At one pm we threw an American picnic for the tias and staff - grilled hamburgers with fresh tomatoes, onions, lettuce, cheese and the regular condiments.  Then we had potato chips, deviled eggs and pop.  For desert we had blackberry cream ice cream, and a couple of other flavors too - the blackberry went very fast.

We did some more work and then the chicas and staff threw a party for us.  Us guys all had to dance the Quaka again!  Then they had native food from down south here for use - a flat bean that looks like a giant Lima bean, pine nuts in the natural form, peach and barley drink, a flat bread made from barley, a cilantro dish and many other unique dishes.

We finished out the day by walking down to Easy and picking up some more copper pipe and grocery run to Santa Isabel - a grocery store.

Chou,

Felipe