Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005
The
Laredo Alternative Break trip is full of spirit. The students are eager
to begin building, the local Habitat For Humanity chapter believes the
volunteers are a Godsend and the first night was spent in a haunted
house.
Checking into the Bullis Inn Bed and Breakfast/Youth Hostel in San Antonio around midnight, the night manager woke up the travel-weary group with tales of light orbs in the dining hall, chilly spots on the stairs and the ghost of Chief Geronimo roaming the Texas mansion.
During the short layover between the flight and van trip to Laredo, the students power toured San Antonio's famous downtown riverwalk and the Alamo.
Later Sunday in Laredo, Carol Sherwood, the head of the local Habitat chapter, praised the students for sacrificing a week of rest to work hard so two families can realize their dream of home ownership. Sherwood laid out the huge challenge to the group; sheet rock on the interior walls of two, and hopefully four, 900-square-foot houses.
With weeks of steady rain, the challenge is compounded by muddy roads to the site. However the weather forecast calls for sunny dry weather during Alma's turn in the Collegiate Challenge schedule.
Admittedly a Christian woman who believes heartily in the power of prayer, Sherwood says the 10-year old affiliate had a zero bank balance a year ago, but now has been able to bring water and sanitary services to a Colonia and build six of 10 planned houses. Alma students will work on numbers seven and nine starting Monday.
Over grilled hamburgs and hot dogs, she brought the students together with the new homeowners, site construction supervisors and chapter administrators. The homeowners and students will work side by side this week.
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Posted: Tue, March 1st, 2005 at 10:52AM
