Bitter Sweet
Today we woke up as if it were a regular morning… we got to finally sleep in, enjoy a great breakfast and relax with our friends but today was one of the most memorable days of our lives. After a week of spending time with two amazing families from the beautiful village of Arroyo Seco and building with blood, sweat & tears, we got to do what we have been working so hard for. This has been our third LiveDifferent Build, but today was the day that two fantastic families would finally be living in a safe, sturdy and clean new home.
The ceremony for Dedication day approached more and more closely as the afternoon went on and the nerves and excitement started to kick in when we all hopped onto the bus one last time for a drive to our beloved village community. Today was one of the most emotional days because as Grade 12 students who will be graduating soon, it meant it was the last Gonzaga trip for us this year. We were honored and so thankful to be the two individuals to hand the keys over to each family. It may seem like a simple gesture, but for each of us it meant we handed both families a new future, a fresh start as well as a safe new home.
Hugging and congratulating each one of them was the biggest example of raw love that someone could ever experience. The gratitude that you could feel from each family was radiated right back to each one of them. Over this past week, they have taught both of us the importance of love, hope, and family. Seeing both of our families open the door to their brand new homes was a sight that we know everyone will never forget. The excitement in all of their eyes to see a solid roof and concrete floor was something that gave us all a reality check of how much we all take for granted.
As the afternoon went on, it became harder and harder to say goodbye to the family we now call our own after 3 years. The whole community of Arroyo Seco holds a big piece of our hearts. Today was one of the toughest days for us to go through because we don’t know when we will be able to do another LiveDifferent Build but it was also one of the most memorable and meaningful days in our lives. We are so thankful to LiveDifferent, our high school Gonzaga and most importantly the village of Arroyo Seco for our experience.
-Sloan & Lisa, LiveDifferent Builds Volunteers, Gonzaga 2015
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<p>Throughout the work day today I was fortunate enough to bond with my some of the children we are building with; Dario and Dariana. It truly was amazing to see just how easy connecting with these two amazing children was. Regardless of the language barrier we were able to create a friendship. Working for the family is very important and life changing, don’t get me wrong, but spending time these children is heart-warming. The memories I have made with the families will forever be in my mind and I am so thankful for the opportunity to have met them.</p>
<p>-Rachel, LiveDifferent Builds Volunteer, Gonzaga 2015</p>
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<p>Some of our team who had the opportunity to participate in “day in the life” during the morning joined us and shared their experiences in the homes of families who graciously opened their homes to them. After lunch, a few more people went to participate in “day in the life” and the rest of us made the short walk back to our job sites. Once again we worked extremely hard mixing cement, but we still found time to have fun dancing with the family and their friends (yes… there are videos). </p>
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