There are two types of students in elementary school: the front row "pick me, pick me!", raise their hand and volunteer for every project student, and the sit in the back, look down at the book and pray the teacher doesn't pick on you student. Don't laugh because you know this is true and you probably fit into one of those categories! It's been fun seeing the McCurdy students at lunch, on the playground and at football practice. It makes you wonder what types they are and what their futures hold.
Today was a day of accomplishments and seeing some fruits from the labor. Mr. IT (and his crew of me, myself and I) finally saw some progress on the computers with two desktops installed and three to go. Software was updated on 8 of 13 laptops and he fixed the 4th grade teacher's network so she finally has Internet (this is not the teacher mentioned in yesterday's blog). We suggested he stay a few extra weeks to finish everything and Andy okay'd the idea!
The yard crew (Judy, Nancy, Kris, Amy, Meg, Karen W. and Dan) went back to work on the football field to tidy up the visitor's side. After being excited it was finished yesterday, they decided they should be nice and clean the other side too. We should love our enemies, even in football. They then moved to the front of McCurdy and the dorm building where no weed or tree was safe! Karen W. joined the crew and was rewarded by having to trim the "devil bush." This gigantic, overgrown bush had branches that poked you but you couldn't tell they were sharp until they punctured you! We're not sure if she'll join that crew again!
Also working outside, Dale mowed the football field (after much deliberation of which mower should be used). This was a long process and before it was even finished, he filled a dumpster with grass clippings. Hopefully the beautiful grass will help them win on Saturday!
Speaking of football (and we're not even in Ohio!), Butch helped create a super-duper-can't-be-broken-even-when-Butch-is-dancing-on-it-hatch for the pres box. There had been problems with kids somehow climbing up on top, breaking in, and partying in the enclosed space. To make sure the hatch was indeed secure, Butch did actually "dance" (jump up and down) on it with a nervous Dan below to make sure it wouldn't budge. Both are injury free, so it must have worked!
Next to the stadium Andy and Dave, a McCurdy maintenance worker, had a little too much fun together! They started to condense the ginormous pile of brush and branches for the annual Homecoming Bonfire. Andy said he might want to be a construction worker when he grows up!
The dynamic duo of Claudia and Carla worked their little rubber thumb thingies till they burned! In half a day they doubled what they did yesterday with a total of 6,460! Remember studio audience, tune in tomorrow for the grand total! Will they reach their goal of 20,000 labels or board a plane home defeated? Barb joined them today and by herself counted 3846 boxtops for a total of $384.60 earning her the nickname Box Top Barb!
Sheila also felt a sense of accomplishment today. All the piles in Vicky's office are now organized along with all the volunteer information. She did this all without having Vicky around too. She is in for a treat when she returns!
Karen C. and Tracy are almost to the finish line with their inventory project! After finding secret rooms, trudging through dark basements and finding who knows how many spiders, all they have to complete is the rest of the Excel sheet for Vicky. There is a light at the end of this project (and they don't have to categorize or photograph it)!
Lucy and Ethel (aka Lori and Brenda) were back in full force today. As a joke, Claudia gave Lori a large blue rubber thumb thingie to cover her bandaged thumb. It actually worked so she named it Blue Tip and used it today. True to her new nickname, you know where this is going. After spending over an hour with Brenda chopping up fruit, the students started to arrive and she noticed Blue Tip was missing! Worried that there would be a Wendy's thumb-in-the-chili incident, she frantically searched the kitchen. Thankfully it rolled under the table and all was well. What adventures does tomorrow hold for these two?
Tom the Terrific led the team, figured out where we needed to go when we finished and worked on his own administrative duties. He'll probably be the happiest to return home just because he won't be corralling 20 people anymore!
Today was actually a half day for everyone so we loaded back up in the vans and headed to El Santuario de Chimayo. It was an outdoor sanctuary and an old actual sanctuary building that is still in use. The church contains dirt said to be holy with healing powers. The outdoor areas were covered in handmade crosses and other items people left as well as gorgeous statues. Its beauty is impossible to describe. We were actually able to meet the 91-year-old priest who has been there for 50 years! He was hilarious and not shy about his height ("they put me in a short church because I am short!")or that he hates the cover picture of his book ("this picture makes me look old, I want the young picture").
We then went to an amazing restaurant that must have known we were coming because they had Sopapillas! Not only that but an amazing trail that led from the restaurant to the top of a small mountain (okay hill, but it felt like a mountain!). The view was breathtaking and we couldn't take enough photos of the mountaintop (or eachother). The weather was perfect with a nice breeze and wouldn't you know, a rainbow? Karen C. knew the men back home at RUMC were in an Emmaeus meeting so she led a mountaintop prayer for them (and another prayer so we could get a picture).
We closed this amazing day with Mark 6:30-44, the story of the five loaves and two fish feeding many and how God wants us to answer His call. In life we often shirk away from it feeling unqualified, unsuited or just afraid, but God gives us all the tools we need. It's a matter of trust and knowing even if we fail God is there to pick us up. We shouldn't be afraid and look down, praying not to be called. We should be students in the front row screaming "pick me, pick me!"
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