Past Expeditions: Torreón, April, 2008

 

 

 

Torreón, April, 2008

Who would have ever guessed that digging trenches, mixing cement and laying brick in the hot desert sun of Mexico would turn out to be one of the best vacations a person could ever have? But that is precisely what happened to the five families who traveled from Utah and Colorado to Torreon/Gomez Palacio in April 2008. Our week went like this:

Day 1:  Arrive and settle in with our host families.

Day 2:  General Conference at the church. In the evening we presented a Stake fireside focused on the Blessings of Music, since Music is a universal language this went over well.

Day 3:  Started work on the house for the Sanchez family (our BIG project). Foundation laid and ground prepped. We also prepped the floor of another home. In the evening we enjoyed family home evening with the members of the Stake.

Day 4:  Continued work on the Sanchez home – built those walls up. Laid the concrete floor at the second house. Spent the evening teaching classes at the Ward including classes in Dance, English, Arts and Crafts, and Outdoor Sports. The members of the Stake then taught us a traditional dance from the state of Durango.

Day 5:  Continued work on the Sanchez home and prepped the floors of 2 other houses. Again spent the evening teaching classes at the Ward including Dance, Drumming, Conducting Music, Arts and Crafts, Magic Tricks, and Outdoor Sports. We received further instruction in the Durango dance.

Day 6:  Finished up work on the Sanchez house. Finished the floors on the 2 other houses. We taught more classes in the evening. We received more dance instruction.

Day 7:  Visited the Sanchez house one last time and completed the final touches. We distributed donated church clothing to the Bishops and Stake Presidency to be taken to their home wards. A group visited the local Hospital to distribute much needed baby items. This group included a 15-year old boy who distributed more than 70 newborn kits directly to the new mothers as his Eagle Project. In the evening we had a Stake farewell celebration. There was a display of talents by our group and the members of the Stake. We performed the dance they taught us during the week. We were able to say our goodbyes to everyone, which was difficult to do.

The work was strenuous but the rewards were rapturous. Although we can record the events of the week, it is impossible to record all the feelings and emotions that the events of the week produced. We cannot convey the bond of brotherhood that we felt with the members of the Stake. We discovered that the pure love of Christ and the joy it brings grows through service. These expeditions create the opportunity for mutual service, for not only did we serve, but we were also served as our host families housed, fed and entertained us. The number of ways these expeditions change lives is incalculable and we feel fortunate to have had the experience.