El Toro Baptist Church: Youth Group Comes to the Ejido
		On 11.5.05, a group of youth from El Toro Baptist Church in El Toro, CA came to help Norm drywall the first of three classrooms we're rennovating at the school in Ejido Cardenas. Here they are as they're about to head off. Lauren Beatty is the only girl in the group and you can read her account of the trip here.
		Youth Director Steve Simmons on site in the ejido viewing a hammer for the first time...or as he said himself, "Web Geek tries to understand tools without buttons or LCD displays.
		Lauren taking time out to meet a friendly part of the local fauna.
		Norm Kremiller, our staffer, showing them how it's done.
		Steve and youth now demonstrating the correct way to hold a hammer and hang drywall.
		Adam Howard hard at work.
		Getting there.
		Getting there too.
		Lauren taking a moment to throw rocks with one of the local boys.
		Two more of "Lauren's boys" enjoying lunch break with the crew. For the story on Lauren's conversations with these boys, read here.
		A view of the surrounding eido from the school grounds.
		Eduardo and his brothers, who befriended Lauren spent much of the day with the crew at the school.
		Barely visible in the gully below the school, parents and children start off on the long trek to the "maquiladores," or factories near La Gloria where many work for substandard pay. As Lauren says in her blog, the factories are a good 15 to 20 minute car drive away, so on foot, the commute is quite long over uneven terrain.
		Time out for break dancing and hand stands.
		Looking good. Note that the pre-wired electrical outlets in the ceiling and walls are for future use if/when electricity and other utilities are ever brought to the ejido. Currently there are no utilities here--electricity, gas, or running water.
		Shadows say it's getting late as the work is nearing completion.
		A room with a view.
		The crew takes a bow in front of their classroom. This room is just the first of three that Children of The Americas will rennovate in this building. It will be a case of moving the occupied classrooms around to vacate the next in line for rennovation as we go.
		A week later we were back on site to bring toys to the children and take these last two shots. From open beam walls to this. Steve Simmons, the youth leader apologized for the lack of skilled labor, but we see no evidence of that here. Great work.
		A major reason to drywall was not just aesthetics. This insulation that is now under the drywall will make a huge difference in the temperature of the classrooms year round, but especially critical in the winter when it can get quite cold. Wtihout electricity or utilities of any kind here, this will make a big difference the children's ability to learn. Thanks to all from El Toro Baptist!