Empesamos extranjeros
pero salimos como amigos.
Tenemos gracias para el trabajo.
A Jesucristo nuestro Dios.
(We arrived as strangers
but are leaving as friends.
We are thankful for the work
from Jesus Christ, our Lord.)
(lyric by Chris K)
Today was a day of transitions. It was our last scheduled work day, our last day at Villa Esperanza, and our last day in Santa Ana. We sifted our last pile of sand, moved our last stack of concrete blocks, poured our last foundation and plugged chizpa into our last wall. But today was much more about the relationships we've built than about the houses.
Carlos, the Villa Esperanza site manager, led the morning devotion, which was followed by some words from Chris expressing our appreciation for the opportunity to serve and thanking the Salvdoran masons and laborers for their patience and willingness to work along side such unskilled labor. Then the volunteer brigade came forward and sang the short song Chris had written about the cultural bridges we had built through our common labor.
Besides being our last day, this was also the first day as Villa Esperanza homeowners for six families. We participated in dedicating the six houses. A pair of volunteers, one female and one male, were given the keys to a house and a copy of the Bible with a personalized blessing on the first page. Then all the volunteers and the families (or at least a representative of the family) gathered in a circle. After some words from Cristina, the architect, a representative of each family said a few words about the family and their feelings about getting their new house and then they were matched up with the appropriate pair of volunteers. When all were matched, the circle broke and everyone went to their respective homes, the volunteers handed over the keys and Bible, and the owners opened the doors to their new homes. Ellen and I gave Carlos Figueroa his key - and after he opened the door he waved us in as his first guests. We chatted some about his family, the house, and his hopes for the futures. I think the others also had a chance to observe the pride with which the Garcia, Hernandez and other families took possession of their new homes.
We went back to work for a bit longer. We were scheduled to work until noon but it seemed to come upon us too soon. The masons started gathering the tools and we went back to the community center to clean up and have lunch. A farewell celebration was planned, but we didn't know what to expect.
It turned out to be quite a celebration. Masons gave speeches about how much they appreciated our work. Home owners gave speeches about how much they appreciated our efforts to give them a place of their own. Volunteers gave speeches about how much they had learned and how much they respected the skills and patience of the masons and other workers. Officers of Habitat for Humanity-El Salvador expressed their appreciation for our work and Thrivent's support of Habitat and the Villa Esperanza community. We were given certificates as testimony to our work - and minature chizpa buckets to signify our contributions. Then a mariachi band marched in and we started dancing - volunteers, Habitat staff, and (with some encouragement) masons. Cake, sodas, many heartfelt farewells, and it was time to get in the buses, go back to the hotel, check out, and head to San Salvador for our weekend excursion and return home.
Tomorrow we will be tourists, traveling the "Coffee and Flower Trail" through the countryside and small towns. And then we will begin our returns.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Day 7 - The word of the week is Flexibility
Be Flexible! All Thrivent Builds teams are given this advice before and during their trips. Things will be different. Schedules will change. Be ready to be surprised. Today was an illustration of why flexibility is essential for a good Build experience.
The first disruption occured as we were driving to the site. Just before we got to our turn-off into Villa Esperanza, we encountered a traffic jam. There was a protest blocking the highway. Since protests may be a short as a few minutes or as long as half a day, Ramon and Mario, our drivers, decided to go back and pick up an alternate route. It took us almost an hour, but we got to travel through the countryside, seeing rice and sugar cane fields, herds of cattle, and coffee bushes on the hillside. We also passed through some picturesque small towns where people waved to the gringos.
Once we got to the Villa, we found the masons had been waiting for us. A few times during the morning devotion Ricardo made a couple of references to our team and how we were helping them and the community. Then most of us went to the site and split up to various tasks around the job. Kirk and Chris went with Carlos (H4H Church Relations officer in El Salvador) to visit another H4H site, Gethsemane, where they are experimenting with a new form of development, working to improve housing and lives in an existing community by building new structures, but also providing training for skilled occupations. Kirk and Chris came back very excited by this new opportunity to help the working people of El Salvador.
In the afternoon, we were ready to start pouring a new foundation. The team of Salvadorans working on the house, unfortunately, had not operated the mixer and loaded it in the wrong order, causing it to bind up. After they cleared the batch out of the mixer (which took nearly an hour), MixMaster Eric G took the helm directing the operation. Shortly after the work really got rolling, it was 2:30 and we were scheduled to leave the site for a tour of the center of Santa Ana and an opportunity to do some shopping. A magnificent seven (Eric G, Eric B, Mike, John C, Dennis, Bryant and Deb) stayed on to finish the job, which lasted another hour-and-a-half.
Later, Jenni led a reflection on Stewardship and Service that went into a discussion of different interpretations of being a steward. Afterwards we went to dinner at the Lovers' Steak House for carne (or pollo) asada, arroz, melange verduras and tres leches (broiled steak or chicken, rice, mixed vegetables, and cake soaked in milk and cream). Once back at the hotel, Kirk reminded us that we'd be checking out in the afternoon so it would be a good idea to start sorting and packing clothes for our move to San Salvador and eventual return home.
Tomorrow will be our last day on the site. We'll work until noon and participate in the dedication of some completed houses before we check out of the hotel.
The first disruption occured as we were driving to the site. Just before we got to our turn-off into Villa Esperanza, we encountered a traffic jam. There was a protest blocking the highway. Since protests may be a short as a few minutes or as long as half a day, Ramon and Mario, our drivers, decided to go back and pick up an alternate route. It took us almost an hour, but we got to travel through the countryside, seeing rice and sugar cane fields, herds of cattle, and coffee bushes on the hillside. We also passed through some picturesque small towns where people waved to the gringos.
Once we got to the Villa, we found the masons had been waiting for us. A few times during the morning devotion Ricardo made a couple of references to our team and how we were helping them and the community. Then most of us went to the site and split up to various tasks around the job. Kirk and Chris went with Carlos (H4H Church Relations officer in El Salvador) to visit another H4H site, Gethsemane, where they are experimenting with a new form of development, working to improve housing and lives in an existing community by building new structures, but also providing training for skilled occupations. Kirk and Chris came back very excited by this new opportunity to help the working people of El Salvador.
In the afternoon, we were ready to start pouring a new foundation. The team of Salvadorans working on the house, unfortunately, had not operated the mixer and loaded it in the wrong order, causing it to bind up. After they cleared the batch out of the mixer (which took nearly an hour), MixMaster Eric G took the helm directing the operation. Shortly after the work really got rolling, it was 2:30 and we were scheduled to leave the site for a tour of the center of Santa Ana and an opportunity to do some shopping. A magnificent seven (Eric G, Eric B, Mike, John C, Dennis, Bryant and Deb) stayed on to finish the job, which lasted another hour-and-a-half.
Later, Jenni led a reflection on Stewardship and Service that went into a discussion of different interpretations of being a steward. Afterwards we went to dinner at the Lovers' Steak House for carne (or pollo) asada, arroz, melange verduras and tres leches (broiled steak or chicken, rice, mixed vegetables, and cake soaked in milk and cream). Once back at the hotel, Kirk reminded us that we'd be checking out in the afternoon so it would be a good idea to start sorting and packing clothes for our move to San Salvador and eventual return home.
Tomorrow will be our last day on the site. We'll work until noon and participate in the dedication of some completed houses before we check out of the hotel.
Day 6 - Concrete, Futbol, and a Pinata
Each morning, a large concrete mixer has been sitting in the corner of the community center. Today, the mixer was pulled out and taken to the site. Carlos, the Build Supervisor, requested "seven strong workers who can carry" to follow the mixer. We went to one of the houses where we had been digging trenches for the foundation - today's the day to fill the trenches with concrete. Two buckets of water, five buckets of rock, one bag of cement, and eight buckets of sand - we filled them and dumped them into the mixer. Then we pushed loaded wheelbarrows of concrete to the trenches and dumped them in, being careful to get the concrete into the trench instead of on the ground while not collapsing the trench. Except for the mixer operator and the mason leveling the concrete in the trenches, the distinction between Americans and Salvadorans pretty well disappeared - we all filled buckets, we all hoisted and dumped them into the mixer, and we all pushed wheelbarrows. Later we found out the plan had been to pour the foundation on Friday - we're two days ahead of schedule!
After lunch, the event the masons and laborers had most been looking forward to - the international futbol game. We changed from work clothes to shorts and walked out to the field, for the most part with very low expectations for ourselves. Everyone lined up and teams were selected, so one vision we had dreaded (El Salvador v Estados Unidos) didn't occur. We sorted out our positions and played for an hour in the sun and heat. Eric G and I (Jon S) had respectable games in goal with more blocks than goals, Eric B got the goal he had expected to make, Mike demonstrated a powerful left foot in kickouts, and the Salvadorans did most of the work. The game ended in a 3-3 tie. We had a few injuries, the most severe being to Chris's calf.
After the game, we returned to the community center for a cultural exchange. A band played Latin American Christian music with drum, flutes, pipes, and guitars; Michelle did a presentation about Mothers' Day in America; and then the children gathered around as Michelle attempted to break a pinata. Although she got in a few good licks, she eventually surrendered and turned the baton over to Chris. His first hit, fortunately just a tap, was on one of the boys (the pinata was behind him and he couldn't make out the instructions from the crowd to turn around). But he did finally get the direction right and then it became a game of keeping him guessing about the height. He surprised Ramon, our driver who was handling the pinata, with a jumping swing that connected, and after that Ramon did as much damage with quick lifts that hit the ceiling as Chris did with the baton. But the pinata finally broke, the candies fell to the floor, the children scrambled for treats (with John C helping some of the little ones in the scrum). That was followed by a tradional meal of tamales, empanadas, papusas, and dulche de leche. Stuffed and tired we returned to the hotel, its air-conditioning, and, most important, its showers.
John C's reflection was on culture, and we shared moments when we felt we had bridged the gaps between Salvadoran and American cultures.
After lunch, the event the masons and laborers had most been looking forward to - the international futbol game. We changed from work clothes to shorts and walked out to the field, for the most part with very low expectations for ourselves. Everyone lined up and teams were selected, so one vision we had dreaded (El Salvador v Estados Unidos) didn't occur. We sorted out our positions and played for an hour in the sun and heat. Eric G and I (Jon S) had respectable games in goal with more blocks than goals, Eric B got the goal he had expected to make, Mike demonstrated a powerful left foot in kickouts, and the Salvadorans did most of the work. The game ended in a 3-3 tie. We had a few injuries, the most severe being to Chris's calf.
After the game, we returned to the community center for a cultural exchange. A band played Latin American Christian music with drum, flutes, pipes, and guitars; Michelle did a presentation about Mothers' Day in America; and then the children gathered around as Michelle attempted to break a pinata. Although she got in a few good licks, she eventually surrendered and turned the baton over to Chris. His first hit, fortunately just a tap, was on one of the boys (the pinata was behind him and he couldn't make out the instructions from the crowd to turn around). But he did finally get the direction right and then it became a game of keeping him guessing about the height. He surprised Ramon, our driver who was handling the pinata, with a jumping swing that connected, and after that Ramon did as much damage with quick lifts that hit the ceiling as Chris did with the baton. But the pinata finally broke, the candies fell to the floor, the children scrambled for treats (with John C helping some of the little ones in the scrum). That was followed by a tradional meal of tamales, empanadas, papusas, and dulche de leche. Stuffed and tired we returned to the hotel, its air-conditioning, and, most important, its showers.
John C's reflection was on culture, and we shared moments when we felt we had bridged the gaps between Salvadoran and American cultures.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Day 5 - New Homes and Old Ruins
Patty C, the El Salvador coordinator between Habitat for Humanity and Thrivent Builds came on site today. She talked with many of the team members about Villa Esperanza and projects being sponsored by church groups across the United States. She also spent some time with Mary, our one returning volunteer, and asked after some of the other corporate volunteers who have come down to El Salvador.
Villa Esperanza (Village of Hope) is a new community being build on the edge of Santa Ana, the third largest city in El Salvador, located to the northwest of the capital, San Salvador, and fairly near the Guatamalan border. Besides the 75 two-bedroom homes, there is a community center and preschool (we got to visit the preschool today). Many of the residents are the owners of small shops or are skilled laborers; the Thrivent Builds program is making it possible for them to become home-owners in a country where buying a home can be difficult for anybody but those rich enough to pay cash.
We had two events scheduled. The first was a visit to the Tazumel ruins, a set of Mayan temple pyramids near Ville Esperanza. (The picture at the top of the blog is the central (Sun) pyramid of Tazumel.) We climbed the steep steps to the top of the Moon pyramid - and then carefully climbed back down. We talked about the Mayan's history of human sacrifice and about how amazing the structures were for a civilization without machines.
After that we went to dinner at a local country club. The dinner was wonderful - papusas and stuffed fried plantains headed the menu - but the real attraction was the big 50-metre pool. Most of us got in the water - and the challenge to swim the distance was too much to resist for some of us. Only Chris and Kirk managed to make it, though.
This is the half-way point of our time in El Salvador. We're getting familiar with the work and our co-workers, which makes us much more effective and efficient. We're also getting used to the climate, which makes it somewhat easier as well. Tomorrow, though, is the big challenge. We're going to have a futbol game with the Salvadorans. We'll also have our cultural exchange.
Villa Esperanza (Village of Hope) is a new community being build on the edge of Santa Ana, the third largest city in El Salvador, located to the northwest of the capital, San Salvador, and fairly near the Guatamalan border. Besides the 75 two-bedroom homes, there is a community center and preschool (we got to visit the preschool today). Many of the residents are the owners of small shops or are skilled laborers; the Thrivent Builds program is making it possible for them to become home-owners in a country where buying a home can be difficult for anybody but those rich enough to pay cash.
We had two events scheduled. The first was a visit to the Tazumel ruins, a set of Mayan temple pyramids near Ville Esperanza. (The picture at the top of the blog is the central (Sun) pyramid of Tazumel.) We climbed the steep steps to the top of the Moon pyramid - and then carefully climbed back down. We talked about the Mayan's history of human sacrifice and about how amazing the structures were for a civilization without machines.
After that we went to dinner at a local country club. The dinner was wonderful - papusas and stuffed fried plantains headed the menu - but the real attraction was the big 50-metre pool. Most of us got in the water - and the challenge to swim the distance was too much to resist for some of us. Only Chris and Kirk managed to make it, though.
This is the half-way point of our time in El Salvador. We're getting familiar with the work and our co-workers, which makes us much more effective and efficient. We're also getting used to the climate, which makes it somewhat easier as well. Tomorrow, though, is the big challenge. We're going to have a futbol game with the Salvadorans. We'll also have our cultural exchange.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Day 4 - Happy Mothers' Day!
El Salvador celebrates Mothers' Day on Monday, and the morning devotion at the Villa Esperanza work site was about the importance of our mothers in our lives. But it was still a work day and we spent the day building "scorpions" (structures of rebar to reinforce the concrete footings for the houses), digging trenches and cisterns, sifting sand, and performing our usual unskilled tasks.
Some heroes emerged for the day. Walter, a 20-year old, martial arts expert on the Salvadoran crew, dug out the hole for a large septic tank with the "help" of a sequence of three volunteers. He'd let the helper work for a few minutes to loosen the dirt using an oversized hoe, and when we were huffing and puffing after a couple of minutes, say "un momento," jump in the hole, shovel out the dirt, loosen some more, shovel it, and then let us back in for another couple of minutes. Only Eric B was able to keep up after he had exhausted two of us.
Eric G spent the day digging out a narrow (about four feet) cistern down to two meters (over six feet) until he hit a shelf of old lava. Although he said it was cool for most of the day, it was a cramped space with no breeze; and by the afternoon space was so tight he needed someone to pull the dirt up in a bucket since he could no longer scoop the dirt out of the hole with a shovel.
And Chris kept everyone entertained with his repetoire of "half songs." The highlight may have been when he started in on "La Bamba" and one of the Salvadorans asked him to sing it in English.
Our ability to communicate is growing. The volunteers' Spanish is improving but most of the Salvadorans are eager to expand their English. On Saturday, Chris (our strongest speaker of Spanish) was frequently called to translate; on Monday there were only a few calls for his interpretory skills.
This has been our last full day of labor. For the rest of the week, we will work part days and then engage in cultural activities and do a little tourism. Mayan ruins, a futbol game, and the dedication of a couple of houses are on the agenda.
Some heroes emerged for the day. Walter, a 20-year old, martial arts expert on the Salvadoran crew, dug out the hole for a large septic tank with the "help" of a sequence of three volunteers. He'd let the helper work for a few minutes to loosen the dirt using an oversized hoe, and when we were huffing and puffing after a couple of minutes, say "un momento," jump in the hole, shovel out the dirt, loosen some more, shovel it, and then let us back in for another couple of minutes. Only Eric B was able to keep up after he had exhausted two of us.
Eric G spent the day digging out a narrow (about four feet) cistern down to two meters (over six feet) until he hit a shelf of old lava. Although he said it was cool for most of the day, it was a cramped space with no breeze; and by the afternoon space was so tight he needed someone to pull the dirt up in a bucket since he could no longer scoop the dirt out of the hole with a shovel.
And Chris kept everyone entertained with his repetoire of "half songs." The highlight may have been when he started in on "La Bamba" and one of the Salvadorans asked him to sing it in English.
Our ability to communicate is growing. The volunteers' Spanish is improving but most of the Salvadorans are eager to expand their English. On Saturday, Chris (our strongest speaker of Spanish) was frequently called to translate; on Monday there were only a few calls for his interpretory skills.
This has been our last full day of labor. For the rest of the week, we will work part days and then engage in cultural activities and do a little tourism. Mayan ruins, a futbol game, and the dedication of a couple of houses are on the agenda.
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