My early morning scouting trip lead me again to the laundromat(to figure out plans for tomorrow morning), to the Trading Post to pick up a gift card for Ross, to the NH to meet the new administrator and confirm that Friday pm Bingo is still a go and lastly to the Elder Feeding program to see if we could do some painting. The maintenance person told me there was paint, when I asked to look at it, I noticed large buckets of paint, but no brushes, rollers, trays etc. When I inquired, he said they were gone, and no they couldn't get any more supplies. While I was pondering my next steps, Ross called to ask if we could come over to the fairgrounds to help remove the skirting from a trailer that needed to be moved. Since that solved the problem of a morning project, I told him I would go get the team and we would meet him at the horse barns.
Having just finished a hearty breakfast prepared by the teens, the team jumped in the van and headed out.
On arrival we found an old trailer surrounded by tall grass, bees, snakes and trash. Ross wanted the skirting and insulation removed. Those with bees phobia chose to collect trash around the horse barns. The family in residence chose to stay inside, until Ross asked them to help, at which point they drove away. The remaining brave volunteers used a variety of tools and strategies to remove the skirting, clean the trash, and cut the grass. After several bee stings, snake scares and dramatic heat(to 99 degrees), I told Ross we had done what we could, which was quite alot actually, and it was time to quit. It turned out that they wanted to move the trailer because the family had essentially been squatting, with the tribe paying their electrical bills. The tribe wanted the area cleaned up, and the trailer moved.
We returned to the Head Start building to cool off and get ready to go to Billings to help out with the Head Start fund raiser car wash, when the Head Start staff pulled up and said they had been to Billings(an hour away) and the car wash was cancelled. The team, somewhat relieved with the break, headed inside for lunch and a debrief of how they felt to be put in a somewhat dangerous, and certainly unpleasant situation. They were particularly aggravated that the family didn't help, and that no appreciation had been expressed by Ross or any other community members for the tough work that had been done. After a long discussion, with many view points aired, there was a feeling of getting a difficult and frightening job done, and an understanding that in a small way it was definitely helping the community.
The team spent the next few hours doing an amazing cleaning and straightening job at the Head Start building in order to prepare for the next Global team that arrives tomorrow. Late afternoon found part of the team running a Bingo game at the blessedly cool Nursing home, where the staff were delighted to see us coming as they had no one to run the game, and the "regulars" were all set up and ready to play. Fifty cents a game, one dollar for blackout. We had a lovely time, and enjoyed a brief tour of this small, spotless, and person centered nursing home. It did seem somewhat ironic to me, that the last project of the week took me straight back to my primary comfort zone: working with older adults. By the way, I did fit in a quick trip back to the Elder Feeding program, to find Brenda and photograph her. She asked me to write to her from home.
Our day and week culminated in a glorious evening celebration at the Trading Post, with copious amounts of buffalo steaks, Indian tacos, fry bread and pies of all types. Superhero gift bags and thank you certificates were awarded to the volunteers, and I was surprised by a pair of gorgeous Crow beaded earrings that I had been lusting after all week. Most importantly was the tremendous sense of team cohesiveness, goodwill, and appreciation for a job well done, despite many obstacles. No surprise to those who know me, the evening ended with a lovely shopping spree at the Trading Post.
As I write , the team is packing up, the teens are singing, the adults are making plans for the next great service adventure.....stay tuned, and I will be in touch from wherever that may be,
With love and gratitude to all of you who cared for things at home and work, so that I could lead this extraordinary team,
Goodbye for now,
Barbara
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