Two stoves and two latrines
After a delicious breakfast, we divided into 2 teams, and took a 45 minute drive up into the mountains to begin our work. The families for whom we were working today spent the last 2 weeks making the necessary cement blocks and bricks we would need to make the stoves and latrines.
Upon our arrival we had brief introductions and immediately got to work. The homes are very, very simple with dirt floors, brick walls, and tin roofs. We were divided into 4 groups, 2 working on stoves, and 2 on latrines. We used circular saws, machetes, mixed multiple batches of cement by hand, measured and cut brick with a machete, dug holes, pounded nails, and everyone worked really hard. The children of the families worked right along side us. Boys and girls 4-8 years old were hauling bricks, mixing cement, and everything else, smiling the whole time. We smiled right along with them! Through our work we began to connect with the children, and by the end of the day we had made amazing connections with them. Once in a while, some of us would pause to play a game of catch with a stone, or teach the kids to count to 10 in English.
About midway through our day, they had an amazing meal prepared for us from a local restaurant down the hill, which was carried up to our location by 2 women who walked, carrying everything on their heads.
It was a long day of work, but the time flew. It was very humbling and incredibly gratifying. The way our crew worked was very awesome. The Habitat Crew Leader said they were very impressed with the way the Cathedral students got right to work, and never stopped. Whenever someone finished one project, they were asking how and where they could help. Pretty soon our "groups" got mixed up, and everyone was just pitching in wherever it was needed.
Words cannot adequately describe this experience, but hopefully the pictures will give you a little glimpse of our day.
At about 4pm we returned to our hotel, took showers. A couple of us stayed at the hotel and rested in hammocks, while others took a stroll through the town of San Lucas. We came upon the town Plaza, where everyone gathers. Andy spotted some teens playing basketball, and they picked up a game of 5 on 5.
After that we went back to the hotel for dinner, reflection, social time, and hopefully a good night's rest.
Tomorrow is our cultural day. We will be traveling by boat across Lake Atitlan to the village of San Juan.
Upon our arrival we had brief introductions and immediately got to work. The homes are very, very simple with dirt floors, brick walls, and tin roofs. We were divided into 4 groups, 2 working on stoves, and 2 on latrines. We used circular saws, machetes, mixed multiple batches of cement by hand, measured and cut brick with a machete, dug holes, pounded nails, and everyone worked really hard. The children of the families worked right along side us. Boys and girls 4-8 years old were hauling bricks, mixing cement, and everything else, smiling the whole time. We smiled right along with them! Through our work we began to connect with the children, and by the end of the day we had made amazing connections with them. Once in a while, some of us would pause to play a game of catch with a stone, or teach the kids to count to 10 in English.
About midway through our day, they had an amazing meal prepared for us from a local restaurant down the hill, which was carried up to our location by 2 women who walked, carrying everything on their heads.
It was a long day of work, but the time flew. It was very humbling and incredibly gratifying. The way our crew worked was very awesome. The Habitat Crew Leader said they were very impressed with the way the Cathedral students got right to work, and never stopped. Whenever someone finished one project, they were asking how and where they could help. Pretty soon our "groups" got mixed up, and everyone was just pitching in wherever it was needed.
Words cannot adequately describe this experience, but hopefully the pictures will give you a little glimpse of our day.
At about 4pm we returned to our hotel, took showers. A couple of us stayed at the hotel and rested in hammocks, while others took a stroll through the town of San Lucas. We came upon the town Plaza, where everyone gathers. Andy spotted some teens playing basketball, and they picked up a game of 5 on 5.
After that we went back to the hotel for dinner, reflection, social time, and hopefully a good night's rest.
Tomorrow is our cultural day. We will be traveling by boat across Lake Atitlan to the village of San Juan.
Way to go guys! Brings tears to my eyes ...
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