So Much to Be Proud Of

Today we worked in the tomato fields for the second time. It wasn’t as bad as the first time we did it. Even though we got tired, sore and hot, I realized that we always ended up smiling. I cannot think of a time in my life where I was working that hard and yet so happy at the same time. I had been told work in the fields was hard and I had seen people working in the fields as we drove by but now I know how difficult it really is. But I also know that with great people to talk and laugh with all day that the day goes by much faster.
At the end of of every day this week we end up being so proud of ourselves and each other. Today we kept up with the Mexican workers and they apparently kept commenting to Santi, our translator, how impressed they were with our work and commitment to seeing what life is like for them. Between the four of us we picked a whopping 130 buckets! Also today we are proud of our shack building skills because it “rained” briefly on our shack today while we were at work and the inside of our shack is dry! Just the cardboard on the floor by the door was wet but was easily replaced. We worried all week how our place would stand up if it rained and if we would have to sleep with wet blankets on a wet floor like many people have to who have not been able to find enough plastic. And now we know we wouldn’t have to worry. We have so much to be proud of this week.