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Lafayette College students attend
several community service-oriented school break trips every year.
The sites are chosen around the country and in neighboring countries
based on their safety, need for student volunteers, and cultural
exposure available for students.
In order to be selected for these trips, students must apply
and show a genuine interest in performing community service and
readiness for such an experience. Members of the team, with the
guidance of the two or three faculty advisors, must raise almost
all of the money to fund these trips. The groups agree upon and
carry out fund raising activities, including candy sales, raffles,
and by seeking private donations, in both the fall and spring
semesters.
This year, the Arizona/New Mexico
ASB team received a generous grant from the Infinity Foundation
of Princeton, NJ. The following presentation contains pictures
and facts about the trip that was made possible through this
organization's commitment to helping worthy causes.
Compiled by Katie Wyckoff,
Team leader, with the help of Amy Ahart, Team Faculty Advisor,
8/00.
Canyon de Chelly
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The team stayed
at a Catholic mission in Chinle, Arizona, one mile from the beautiful
Canyon de Chelly. The first afternoon was spent exploring the
landscape and speaking with some of the people living and working
in the area to get a better sense of the culture we were going
to encounter in the days to come. |
| With the help of
a Navajo woman working at the base of the canyon, we learned
about the amazing history of the canyon and the people who once
lived there. |
Whitehouse
Ruins in Canyon de Chelly
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The Squad
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From left to right:
team members Jason (class of '00), Michelle (advisor), Sandy
('01), Katie ('01), Steve ('00), Steve ('00), Mike ('01), Molly
('00), and Heather ('02). (not pictured: second faculty advisor,
Amy) |
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A glimpse of the team in one
of their last relaxing moments!
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Painting the fellowship
hall
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The fellowship hall
was a major social point of the area. Here Navajo families came
to play Bingo, play sports (especially basketball), and attend
AA meetings together. Almost all of the activities were run by
the priests and sisters who managed the mission. This building
was in need of repair and an entirely new paint job, which we
diligently worked on through out the week! |
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More images of the hard work
we did on the building every day…
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Muscles
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Katie and Molly
definitely got a good workout during the week! |
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Steve, Jason, Molly, and Katie
even became 'experts' at constructing and using old scaffolding
equipment…
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The Group at Pinon
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In order to maximize
our 'people-power,' we sent part of the group to a site in Pinon,
Arizona to assist with clean-up and repairs at a new mission
site. Pictured here are Steve, Sandy, and Amy. |
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Team members Sandy and Steve
working on installing a satellite dish.
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Paul Bunyon
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Some people encountered
more physical challenges than others on the trip! |
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Sister Leilia
A picture of one of the nuns
we worked with closely at the Pinon site.
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Fry Bread
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A cultural tradition
of the Navajo, we enjoyed our bread with honey and powered sugar. |
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The Hogan
This circular hut was at the
top of a 'sheep hill' and is used for special Navajo ceremonies.
It had a dirt floor, wood stove for heating, and sacred ground
surrounding it. We were given permission to stay in the hut and
help with sheep herding in the morning.
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Sheep hearding
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Baaa! |
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Some of the sheep were very cooperative!
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Others were not
as cooperative, as Steve found out! |
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This might have been our most
challenging task all week…
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We also helped take
care of the sheep herding dogs. |
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One final look at the whole hardworking
group before the long trip home.
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Thank You!
The entire Arizona/New Mexico
ASB team would like to thank the Infinity Foundation once again
for their support for our service trip. Without your assistance
we would not have been able to have such a lasting and worthwhile
experience!
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