A few of us woke up early for a walk or a run on the beach before gathering as a team for breakfast. After breakfast we quickly gathered our supplies for the day and headed to Miss Annie’s house in Flowers Bay to begin work. Miss Annie is sort of like a local legend, she takes care of any in need. Previous teams have done various work around and to her house, but for me this was a first time to spend time with Miss Annie. We had been told kind of what to expect but I don’t think I was quite prepared for the type of person I was about to meet. She has a spirit about her that is hard to explain unless you meet her and once you do, your life will forever be blessed by knowing her. She has a huge giving heart, one that is a rarity. Carlos, our host had arranged for us to finish the laundry room a previous team had started, paint, and build a sidewalk through a low area that sits on Miss Annie’s property but the whole community uses.
A group of team members quickly got to work digging a forty-foot trench to run the drain line from the washer out to the yard. Another group of team members began painting inside and outside the laundry room. We soon had several neighborhood kids at our sides offering to help with anything we needed. I honestly don’t know when I have seen so many kids eager to help paint anything and everything. They took over the painting while we assisted them in the high areas and prevented too many paint fights. By lunch, the trench was dug and the painting was done. After lunch the gravel was delivered and we had the needed equipment to finish the drain line and we all quickly got to work. As we would work different community members would stop by to see Miss Annie and talk about the work we were doing. It is amazing to see people truly embrace the idea of community living. Every child knew every adult and listened when they were told. Children walk into any home without any announcement. The community functions as a large family. An amazing family that has welcomed our St. Luke’s family for the past 4 years.
