Thursday, January 24
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Our service-learning humanitarian service objectives culminated Thursday morning in a four-hour visit to a government-funded, long-term homeless shelter for senior age gentlemen, almost all of whom have no capacity to support themselves and would otherwise be living in the streets. Many residents are immobile or semi-mobile (e.g. wheelchairs are common), most have no known family support, and some are mentally disabled or physically disfigured. AHS and CEBA students first visited the severely immobile residents, sang hymns or other love songs, delivered hand-tied fleece blankets, took residents for wheelchair rides, patted hands, gave them hugs and smiles, and engaged them in inspiring conversation. Some students were touched to tears by the needy state of these gentlemen and the spirit the service invited. When asked about the highlights of the trip, AHS Junior Cierra Stice said, "I like the asylum yesterday. I realized how unselfish you have to be to serve and how much more selfless I [can be]."
This service was an application of the service-learning theme written on the back of our group T-shirts—Jacob 2:18–19: "And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted." Before the service activity, leaders emphasized to students that the Savior would "administer relief to the sick and the afflicted." He often spent time among the poorest, sickest, and most despondent to brighten their lives and bring them comfort, peace, and healing. Leaders encouraged students to consider how their feet would be walking in places where the Savior might walk and how they could be privileged to do what he might do in bringing joy and happiness to the residents.
After visiting with the gentlemen for almost an hour and a half, we transitioned to the second phase of our service plans, which included two hours of garden beautification, litter removal, and repainting a reflection pool and welcome marquee. Leaders emphasized that individuals feel better when they live in and visit beautiful places (students agreed they loved visiting the Mexico City Temple for the Spirit and beauty of it). Students masked the bronze marquee placard, and painted the concrete around it, giving it a fresh, bright coat of white paint. Rollers were used to paint a blue floor for the reflection pool, and others painted the short walls of the pool white all around.
In the garden area, students re-wrote CAIS CUATEPEC using rocks that they then painted white. Leaves and grass were raked and collected. Impressively, students collected over a dozen 24-gallon bags of litter from the campus, giving the facility a cleaner appearance and feeling. Leaders of the facility were very appreciative and said they would be glad to have us come back any time! We returned to CEBA for Lunch.
Hiking the "B" after lunch gave students a unique opportunity to walk through Mexico City streets on the way to the nearby hill. Students saw some very poor homes that used mattress springs for fencing, that featured out-houses for bathrooms, stone "lavaderos" (washing machines), and very steep streets. Students observed the near ubiquitous use of concrete for building homes. The beautiful view of Mexico City led students to recollect on the prosperity of the USA, the vastness of the earth, and the unending care and love of God for His children in all the world.
After the hike (1:30–3:10 p.m.) and time to pack bags and clean dorms, CEBA's 85-member folk dance team (called "Ballet Folklorico"), amazed us at 5:00 p.m. with a variety of dances from following periods and regions of Mexican Heritage: Teotihuacan, Aztecs, Sinaloa, Veracruz, Merida, Baja California, and a Mexican National dance. Some dances involved as many as 48 students. The team demonstrated advanced choreography, colorful and stunning costumes, and a brilliant student performance. One student commented, "Wow!"
A final devotional allowed students to express their love for each other, recollect poignant experiences, and share lessons learned and testimonies borne.
We then shared the following panoramic picture with students and they visited until bedtime, sharing hugs and more expressions of love--knowing the tour would end at 5:30 a.m. the next morning.
