"What is 6 times 7? What is 8 times 5?!"

That was our cheerful wake up strategy this morning! We traded in the trumpets for rapid fire mental math to make sure everyone’s brains were actually functioning. The fatigue is definitely reaching its peak, these teenagers are used to sitting at school desks, so throwing them into heavy physical labor in a high altitude climate is no small feat. Muscles are sore, and a few sniffles are floating around, which is completely normal on a mission trip like this.

A quick note on the cold: If your kids happen to mention being chilly in their phone calls, don't worry! After dinner, instead of staying in the cozy indoor spaces our retreat house offers, they prefer to hang out on the rooftop terrace stargazing. And honestly, we can't blame them, the night sky here in Arequipa, high up in the altitude with no clouds and zero light pollution, is breathtaking! But of course, choosing to sit outside under the stars comes with a bit of a chill.

Here is how our hard-working sixth day unfolded!

When we arrived at the casa de abuelos, Flavio had outdone himself again: two towering piles of red bricks were waiting for us outside. This time, they were smaller bricks meant for building the walls. A small team finished up the last details on the roof, while the rest formed a massive human chain to move the first tower of bricks inside. At first, the pile didn't seem to shrink at all! But once the roof squad joined the chain, our speed doubled. An unexpected blessing? The red bricks had been sitting under the bright morning sun, absorbing all that heat. As the volunteers passed them from hand to hand, the warm bricks released a lovely, comforting heat, a simple pleasure that kept everyone's hands warm and spirits high through the heavy lifting. During a quick break, we brought out orange juice and bananas. The moment the bags hit the ground, everything vanished in seconds!

While the second brick tower was being tackled (using a hybrid strategy of human chains and brave volunteers carrying 4 to 6 bricks at a time), we dispatched a special "Delta Team" to take on one of the home's biggest headaches: the pharmacy storage room.

Over time, medications had been piling up chaotically. Expired medicines were mixed with active ones, items couldn't be found, and the home was accidentally buying duplicates of supplies they already had! With incredible patience, our small team sorted through everything, safely disposing of over 6 kg of expired medications and organizing the rest. There is still more to do, but it was a massive victory.

By lunchtime, both brick towers were completely cleared!

After lunch, our group split into two teams:

The team staying at the care home spent their afternoon tidying up and giving a small, meaningful gift to the residents: a brand-new scarf for every single elder.

Watching their faces light up was unforgettable. A few fashion conscious abuelas even politely requested to swap light colors for navy blue (or vice versa) to match their style! Over the past few days, we’ve seen how versatile a simple scarf is for them: they use them as neck warmers, head wraps, small lap blankets, or even soft restraints to keep frail residents safe in their wheelchairs. Of course, the afternoon wouldn't be complete without a bit of drama from Alejandro, our resident escape artist! He quietly slipped out of his chair and made a break for the front gate without the nurses noticing. Luckily, Margherita and Michele spotted him just in time to intercept. Michele then took him on a long, scenic walk around the courtyard to help satisfy his wanderlust safely!

Meanwhile, our second group headed back to the Chavez de la Rosa orphanage. Armed with fresh stationery supplies donated by one of our volunteers, they spent a tireless, rewarding afternoon helping the children with homework, playing games, and providing the clean, safe, joyful presence these kids crave.

Back home, after much-needed showers, we gathered for a different kind of evening: Small Group Circles.

This was a moment to slow down, look each other in the eyes, and reflect on everything we’ve experienced so far. All of these teenagers are roughly the same age, facing similar struggles back home, yet viewing this journey through their own unique lenses.

In everyday life at school, teenage friendships can sometimes stay on the surface. Conversations often hover around casual topics, rarely digging into what is truly happening beneath the surface. But here, stripped of their usual routines and comfort zones, something magical happens. Sharing a mission like this creates a rare, sacred space of trust.

Tonight, they opened up about things they usually keep hidden, vulnerabilities, doubts, and personal struggles that even their closest friends or families might not know about. They realized they aren't alone in their fears, and that true strength comes from being authentic.

Our biggest hope for your children is that when they return home, they carry this freedom with them. We hope they keep tearing down the walls teenagers so often build around their hearts, facing life with greater serenity, deeper connections, and unshakeable confidence in who they are. Tomorrow will be another beautiful day. It will be Alec’s birthday and we won’t work on the construction site but they will be waiting for us at a special place!