Friday

Today was probably one of the busiest days of the week. We went to the elementary school and helped with this neat community garden project they had going, where we fixed up planters, spread out tan bark, planted flowers and shoveled A LOT of dirt. In the end I think everyone got sunburned, but it’s a good thing that Elizabeth brought this numbing spray for the burns! Unfortunately we had to say goodbye to the townsfolk and friends we made over the week, but something tells me we will be back before too long. It was such a great experience to share with not only our youth group but also with the youth of Pescardero. Now everyone is just that much more excited for what’s going to go on next year at work camp!

-Olivia

As we worked on the Community Garden, it was affirming to see the blank field slowly change into the beginnings of a beautiful space for the community to share. We worked with Karen, a landscape architect who had precise blueprints on what the garden will eventually look like. It’s ambitious, but we made a HUGE difference today. Our youth and leaders just rolled up their sleeves and got it done! We moved six 4x12-foot container boxes, nailed chicken wire on the bottoms, filled them with dirt and top soil, and then planted strawberries, flowers and prepped them for vegetables. We dug holes for posts and fruit trees, laid the areas between the boxes with weed barriers and finally shoveled many cubic feet of mulch around the container boxes. We moved numerous hay bales to the perimeters around the garden.

To see the transformation in just 5 hours was so fulfilling. Feeling the warm soil in our hands and working shoulder to shoulder with the Puente High School youth felt like we were all a big family. Witnessing the youth work diligently and non-stop till our work was done flies in the face of some who express that “the youth today are lazy.” All week they’ve proven over and over again that, given a task, they work with laughter, spirit, grace, and purpose with the common goal of helping this community. There was much laughter, sharing, spiritual growth, intimacy, and deep gratitude and appreciation for the people who work in the fields and grow our food. It’s no longer them but us. Blessings to our youth for the lessons they’ve learned and the wisdom they’ve shared.

At one point I stood aside the group just watching them work together and felt tears streaming down my face. I feel both proud and blessed to be with our Winthrop youth and leaders in such a close, bonded community. I love these youth and I see and feel God working through their hands.

The evening ended as we all participated in the Talent/NoTalent show. Alex had the privilege of wearing “the dress” and in my opinion the boys skit imitating how the girls behave was gut busting. Bravo to our Winthrop Youth!!!

- Elizabeth