Weekly Report from Dulzura

On July 18 we said farewell to Harold and Maurice and welcomed Wilmer, Mary, Madison, Kerri, Ernie, Keith, Steve, and Lori. The last two weeks we have had groups from Morden and Winnipeg, Manitoba joining us (one group per week, respectively). By joint effort, the siding and exterior paint has been finished on all three houses. The drywall has been hung and the mudding started at the B-V house. Once the inspections passed on Thursday, drywall hanging was started at the C and Z houses. Brush and weeds were cleared at the T house so it would pass the fire code inspection, which is scheduled for today. If it passes, the family will be able to move in (the temperature in their trailer has been between 115 and 120° F. the last few days).

Some volunteers went for a cross-country hike and got stopped by the Border Patrol (Dulzura is very close to the Mexican border, and is heavily patrolled). Once it was ascertained that the group was with MDS, they were allowed to go on their way.

On the last two Wednesday evenings, we invited some of our clients to join us and share their stories. Both clients said that one thing they have learned from the fire is that material possessions have very little value – what matters is that they and their family members survived (along with various pets, including a Red Angus bull).

Wilmer and Mary, Steve and Lori, John and Wendy, Steve, Ernie, Kendra, Madison, Kerri, Peter, and Keith.