Day 4: Wrapping up in Jarabacoa

We don't always have the opportunity to see a project through from beginning to end on this kind of trip. Rather, we are often completing a piece somewhere in the middle of the project, picking up where another group left off and leaving the rest of the project in the capable hands of those volunteers who will follow. So today was a great day, as we were able to put the finishing touches on our aqueduct, which was a project exactly the right size for our group.

We arrived in El Limón bright and early and got to work, settling into the now familiar rhythm of picking and shoveling alongside our friends from the community. While we have gotten the hang of the process, we are certainly amateurs compared to the Limónenses. Often one would eye the stretch of terrain one of us was tackling and step in, taking the pickaxe and making quick work of a rocky patch. We joked that they were watching our work until they couldn't tolerate the inefficiency any longer and needed to step in. In reality, it was clear that they were grateful for our partnership, and Olmedo, the community liaison, and Juanito, the elder Limón statesmen, were effusive in their gratitude for our hard work. At the end of the afternoon, when the last stretch of pipe had been covered, Juanito shared with us the warm feelings he had for our group, as well as other groups of American volunteers who had helped his community. We then capped off the project with a hike back to the far end of the aqueduct, where it all began two days ago. When we got there, the family living in the farthest house was already making good use of their faucet, running the water to mix cement for a building project that would previously have taken significantly longer. To see the water flowing so easily from the faucet, the fruit of our labor, was the perfect end to the project.

We returned to the Rancho, where our plan for the afternoon -- a waterfall hike -- was briefly delayed by a thunderstorm. When the weather cleared, we hopped into the truck and made the half-hour drive to Salto Jimenoa, one of the area's many beautiful waterfalls. A quick hike, a few photo opps, and we were back on the road to Rancho Baiguate for dinner and a quiet evening. Tomorrow morning we will relocate to San Pedro de Macorís to begin the second phase of our trip. (Remember, our access to internet connection will be spotty there. I will post a quick update each evening, if I'm able.)

Some parting words from Isaiah '16 on our time in Jarabacoa:

Our last day in Jarabacoa was very bittersweet. Seeing the project finished was a very unique experience. To see my classmates work so hard on finishing this project and then to see their reactions when it came to an end is something I always remember forever. We all poured so much energy and emotion into completing the project for the people of the community, and it was difficult to see it all come to an end. I was very impressed with the work we were able to accomplish together and am quite proud to have been a part of this project. To hear members of the community express their gratitude after we completed the project is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Although I was limited by my Spanish III skills to comprehend the entirety of their speeches, I was able to understand enough to see that they were genuinely grateful for the work we had done. To hear them say how the pipeline would change their daily lives made me feel so proud to know that I was able to improve their lives. Despite the high morale, the time came for us to depart El Limón for the last time. I was happy to see the smiles on everyones faces; however, it was not easy to say goodbye to the people of this community. Despite the limited amount of time and the language barrier, each and every member of this community impacted me in a large way. To see their strong sense of family and dedication inspired me to behave the same way when I return home. I am proud of our group so far and am excited to see what we can get done in the coming days!