Projects with the Volunteers - #2

Rochelle Cronquist from Atlanta Georgia, is a small, but very powerful (personality, body strength, and determination) young woman. She is a Junior this year at BYU majoring in Public Health with a minor in International Development. She has run a marathon, spent several months in her favorite country, France, on a Study Abroad program, and counts this summer as her third trip to Rising Star. She has been in charge of all special projects, including after school activities, projects in the colonies, evening devotionals and assorted other things that fall under the category of "special projects." The other coordinators finally came to the conclusion she had way too many jobs to survive the summer. There was, of course, a lot of help from the others, but basically Rochelle handled many tough jobs on her own. She is lovely in a sari, but never afraid of getting dirty--she did a lot of that!

When I think of her, my favorite picture will always be handling the workers and the volunteers as they began in July to build three toilets in the Bharatapuram Colony, with the large group that came with Sally Reed from New Caanan, CT. Getting the contractor to understand that the three workers with him were not to do all the work, but rather teach the volunteers how to set bricks, mortar, plaster, build a roof, and paint the three "squatters" as we dubbed them was almost impossible. The contractor would fail to have the materials, they couldn't figure out why a group with materials and one mason should be at each site, and they would start at 7:00 when we would not arrive until 9:30 and a good portion of the work would be done. In the end, because of Rochelle's perseverance and determination the volunteers completed the project and felt satisfied, and the job turned out great. (note the pictures.) One man told us that he had to carry his wife everywhere, and he was so happy now that he had a toilet right by his home and he no longer had to carry her all the way up the hill where it was private. Always sweet stories of sacrifice and perhaps making a life a little easier.

She also led a group of volunteers in August to redo the walls of the barber's shop and put on a new roof. He was thrilled--small project, but great rewards. They completed this project the last day before they were leaving to go home. Rochelle had announced to me that she would stay as late as necessary to make sure the last of the painting, etc., was completed. She did!

Rochelle was outstanding in all that she did--tough as nails, and always a lady even when climbing on the top of the roof to paint under the eves. There was no job that was too daunting for this incredible young lady! Thank you Rochelle for being an inspiration to us all.

Pictures: Rochelle with Joyce and Ron at our farewell thank you at the Marriott; Rochelle and Kelsey Holloway putting the finishing touches on the barber shop; Rochelle and the happy barber; finished toilets (two of them--they completed three); and building the toilets with the volunteers. Rochelle carried a lot of bricks!