Life on the build site...

Jennifer's blog (Day 3 in Honduras / Day 1 on the Habitat Build)

Day 1 was a Travel Day, Day 2 was Orientation Day - making today Day 3 which is actually day one on the BUILD SITE!

We met for breakfast at 7am, then drove 20 minutes down a dirt road to a cluster of homes which are Habitat homes built in previous years made of cinder blocks and some recently built with Adobe bricks. There was an open field with approximately 12 tarps layed out on the ground with adobe bricks already prepared and drying. Adobe bricks are a special type of mud with pine needles. These are what the Habitat houses will be built with from now onward.

There was a work site with a pile of large rocks, a pile of dirt (to mix the cement) and 3 houses already started with waist high adobe brick walls with mortar and 3 more where masons were working on the foundation with large broken rocks and cement. In front of these already started houses was a small stack of dry adobe bricks.

An area to the side was a tent with the habitat logo, a table and chairs for 12.

We started the day with a "Circle of Trust" which meant everyone involved in the build stood in a circle and we went around with each person introducing themselves - masons, assistants, volunteers, one gentleman who currently lives in a Habitat Home, neighbours and Habitat staff. The gentleman from next door led us in a prayer for this particular build and the work we will do.

We were shown what jobs we were to do and how to do them. Each of us were assigned tasks and as the day proceeded we switched tasks depending on difficulty, heat, exhaustion or just to mix it up. Our major tasks were to move the drying Adobe bricks from their drying location to the pile near the houses being built. Eight people were transporting the adobe bricks in wheelbarrows, three to four people were either loading the wheelbarrows or unloading/stacking the delivered adobe bricks. Some would switch and help with the sledgehammer to break rocks for the foundation and deliver those rocks directly to the masons working on the foundations. These jobs moving adobe bricks and broken rocks are known to be the hardest of Habitat jobs and are not usually first tasks on day one. That being said, we have all worked very hard today and I am impressed with everyone's diligence. Everyone certainly went above and beyond already and it's only Day 1!

I rock... You roll...

Steve O working the rock quarry...

This is a great job for the first day or so...

Off to recruit...

We stopped at lunchtime to eat and Luis, our Habitat Honduras Coordinator, took us for a walk down the road showing us houses in the neighbourhood which are previous Habitat Built houses, regular neighbours homes and a bakery along the road. We met the people who lived in the neighbourhood and one lady showed us her home. We met her children, pets and saw how she keeps her very tidy home. Interesting to see her outdoor kitchen, garden, main room and two beds rooms for a family of five.

Meeting the neighbours...

During the day all of us interacted with the Children who were present at the site and were very cute. We said our goodbyes to them and the masons and assistant workers.

Our day ended at 3:30pm and we cleaned up by covering the bricks with tarps to protect the ones we moved and those that are still drying. Much to our delight we realized we had moved 5 skids of adobe bricks !!!!!! I am so impressed and proud of our team!

We returned to our Hotel and had an hour of free time which I used to have a power nap and a shower. We gathered in the lobby for 6pm, and Luis took us on a 7 block walk to an All Girls Orphanage (ages 4-25). We played games and spent 2 hrs with the children. Most of them wanted to hold our hands or hug us - physical contact is something they crave. It was difficult to leave them. Each of us were acutely aware that everyone including us visit and then leave. Upon departure, we left the Nuns with toothbrushes and toothpaste along with crayons and markers for all of the girls. We have promised to write letters and such. I met a sweet little girl called Neidy whom I will definitely write letters to from Canada. Many of these children are at the Orphanage because their parents cannot afford to raise them.

Steve and the girls...

What form Jason!

We walked to our Dinner location, a restaurant called Lenca Maya, which was a variety wonderful local cuisine in an outdoor setting that had fire laps and bamboo making us feel like we were on survivor. No worries, no one got voted off!

We walked another few blocks and are now back at our hotel. It has been a full and interesting day - 1st day of the Build successfully complete. Everyone has proved to have excellent work ethics, amazing teamwork and common interests. Our team is already a cohesive unit and we have only known each other for 2 days!

Jennifer Waldschutz

Representing The University of New Brunswick at Habitat for Humanity Honduras 2013