The multipurpose room is almost done. Pascual and the rest of the crew have been working hard to finish the inside and outside of the building. Emiliano has been working on the field, cleaning the area to make the soccer and beach volley fields. The Merelos have been preparing the land for planting the garden, and everybody has been helping in different ways to do as much as possible before the Oakdale Emory UMC VIM team arrives in October.All of the progress at the camp center project has been made possible; thanks to the donations and support of the Oakdale Emory UMC, other churches from PA, and the financial support of Miguel’s covenant churches and other individuals. We would like to give thanks to all of them, who have been helping us to fulfill this dream.
Th
e Merelo’s bathroom: Due to the fact that Cecilia’s health hasn’t been good. (She was diagnosed with cancer; and has been under treatment and medical exams), we decided to build a kitchen and bathroom next to the cabin that they are using as their home. (They were using the camp restroom area during these past two years)After two months of working on the new building, Pascual completed the inside of the bathroom: tiles on the floor and walls, and all the necessary equipment for a regular bathroom were installed. I took some pictures of his work, and I congratulated him for his “excellent job” with it. Suddenly, he said to me, “I never thought I could build my own bathroom”. His eyes were weeping and his emotion of being able to see his work was a very touching experience. This showed me, one more time, that there are things that for us are so common and normal in our lives, but for others are such a privilege to have.
All fenced: Olivio Techera is the name of the man who was hired to build the wire fence at the camp center. This was divided into three main parts, because of financial purposes. For those who know the place, the whole area has been wire-fenced. We had bought signs to keep the area restricted from animals and hunters and people who used to through trash onto the property.
Teeth for a nice smile: Cecilia Perez had been living without upper teeth for several years. Thanks to the support of the Oakdale Emory UMC VIM Team, she was under a dental treatment. When she saw herself in a mirror, she couldn’t believe her new smile. It was even interesting see her husband and children’s eyes when they saw her for the first time with her new look. “God makes us smile in different ways, if we allow Him to do it”.
