We started off in the basement of the refugee asylum center (Hotel Porin) where we were told we could leave all our bags. Our supplies and tools are there and we are told it is secure as none of the residents are allowed there and it is “guarded”. But, it is also home to all the housekeepers and storage of all supplies so people and carts and back and forth through the area constantly. We had a short team meeting and prayer time with workers walking through but it all worked out anyway.
The place is crawling with people! NGO groups of several kinds ---- Red Cross, Unicef, Save the Children, to name a few. Apparently they all have offices in this building --- on the main floor, which still looks like a fairly nice hotel. The only air conditioning in the building is in this area also. And there are a lot more residents out and about today than there were on Saturday.
We started out with cleaning and washing the walls of the 1st floor common room and hallways. There were several of the refugee men who were eager to help. Using vinegar water we used mops and sponges to scrub things clean. Then taping everything that didn’t need to be painted took some time. Meanwhile, Joe had mentioned he would like to work in the garden since it was so overgrown. He came through mid-morning and found two of the cleaning volunteers and convinced them they would like to work outside. Neither of those two guys had ever worked in landscaping and didn’t know how to use the tools but Joe taught them. By the end of his day, the yard and bushes were beginning to look great.
One of our refugee volunteers is Ali, a fair skinned red headed man from Palestine. He speaks very little English, but is energetic and eager to help! He also knows how to do electrical work and how to paint and is not hesitant to tell us we are doing it “wrong”. We have an entire hallway with lights that do not work and he tells us they are broken and need to be replaced. So, we sent him off to the “Home Depot” with Pete today to buy new lights and what he needs to put them up.
Lunch was eaten at Hotel Porin in the restaurant with the residents. It was very good and consisted of rice, chicken, bread and a nectarine. There was lots of food placed on each plate. And, it only cost 15 Kuna each (just over $2). We met several refugees as we were eating. Some could speak fairly good English, some no English. Each resident is supplied with three meals a day during the week and 2 plus a take-home snack on the weekends. Today’s meal was provided by one of the NGO’s.
After lunch we had devotions in the park. There were some of the refugees who sat around the area we were who listened in. Then back to work. It’s cool and cloudy today which makes it harder to return to work after lunch as it’s hot in the buildings without air conditioning. But, we must finish. Our planned Kid’s camp was at 2 p.m. so Tracie, Katie, Cindy, Dana, and Hadyn headed off in the direction of the 2nd floor children’s room, offered to us by Unicef. But, unfortunately, once the craft supplies were out of Tracie’s bag the kids all grabbed and ran. It sure didn’t work out very well. Some of the kids did go outside where they played games with Dana for an hour or so.
Meanwhile, on 1st floor the painting was progressing quite well. Most of the walls in the common area were painted the new color, which is blue. We were getting many comments from the constant stream of residents, none of which were negative. We have talked to Miriam, a resident who is a very talented artist. She has agreed to paint designs and pictures on the new painted walls.
Finishing up the day around 4:30 we cleaned up and put everything away in the basement. That meant up and down flights of stairs. We then loaded up in cars to head back to our respective residences. We have about an hour to clean up and then make our way to the horse statue in the city center. Tonight’s dinner for 13 of us was in a very tiny restaurant where we ate a very traditional Croatian dish called Strukli…..kind of like a hot boiling baked cheese enchilada. Very good but also very rich and filling. The other three plus the ministry staff ate at one of the Italian food restaurants. They said it was also very good.
Free time after dinner and the streets are crowded and shops still open! So, a little stroll through the city center area, some shopping and ending with gelato at a little dessert restaurant. Quite a nice evening.
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