Luckily the rain held out for another day. It looks as if the cool spell has passed and the heat has returned to stay. I do miss the cool weather but I am glad to be able to get some work done.
Today a great deal was accomplished. The dirt work is now almost complete and prepped for the concrete. As simple as that sounds, it was a trememndous undertaking. The gazebo is not small, and the ground is not soft. Everything from concrete pillars to bricks to old rusty pipes was found in every spot we needed to dig. Three hours later my hands are still ringing!
Ephrian and I made the trip out to the block making factory to pick up the blocks for the foundation. I got to see the big machines that they use to press the block. I also got to see a big part of Nuevo Laredo I had never seen before. It was obvious that the excessive rain had taken its toll on the people in this area. So much was scattered all over the landscape and there wasn´t one road that hadn´t had atleast one area washed out. We also met up with a friend of the Madres from church to get the maya (metal grid to hold the concrete together). He was very thankful that the rain had stopped and he could return to work.
After returning and working until dinner time, the excitement of the day ensued. Today was Mariana´s birthday (she is one of my very favorite here) and I wanted to give her the birthday presents I had planned to give her. I went out to the room I am staying in to retrieve it, and what do I see? A 4 plus foot long snake making its way into my room. This snake was no slouch. Once it heard me coming it moved faster than I have ever seen a snake move. I took off running and called one of the older girls to come see it so that I would know what word to use when telling the Madres. Problem was, she thought I was playing a joke on her and she just ignored me! After some convincing and pleading, she agreed to take a look. The snake had settled halfway into the doorway, so she thought it was small and told the Madres there was a SMALL snake in the doorway. Madre Hac, like a soldier, grabbed a big wooden pole and proceeded into the room while Chris and I are outside freaking out. Madre found it hiding behind a water cooler and began smacking at it with the stick. From outside I see the snake striking the stick as high as 3 or 4 feet in the air. Finally, the snake attacks and NARROWLY missed the valiant Madre. She stepped outside and I pleaded with her to not go back in, but, she pushed me aside and went back in to finish the job. At this point I´m thinking she has lost her mind! But, less than a minute later she had slayed the serpent. Its head was no more and I could then tell this was not her first rodeo.
Needless to say, I felt a little small after the whole situation. Picture this: me standing outside with a look on my face that I´m sure can´t be described, and a nun inside battling a snake. Anyways, animal control was called and I was lovingly ridiculed by a bunch of girls.
I seriously doubt I will be getting any sleep tonight.
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