Have you ever tried helping someone and all they did was correct you? Or you just couldn’t seem to do it their way so they got frustrated with you?
This past week, we have been building a house.
We show up at our work site and help unload bricks and shovel gravel. Although we are working hard, we have been working alongside a group of men who know how to get er’ done. But let’s be real, these guys have done this before. They know what they are doing. In this culture, it’s a little strange for women to be doing this kind of work. It just doesn’t happen. I’m thinking to myself, “Are we really helping these guys or are we just in the way? Are we slowing them down?”
One afternoon, a huge truck pulls up by the house with hundreds of bricks. We start an assembly line. A man from the truck passes a brick to someone and then they pass it until it made its way to me. I was at the end of the line, and it was my job to stack the bricks. Each time we started a new row, the bricks had to be stacked a certain way, and it was my job to make sure that happened. Each time I went to start a new row, the man on the truck would give me hand motions to do it a certain way, so I would try and follow what he wanted, but it was never right. He would sometimes try to speak a little Spanish, but since I’m not a fluent speaker he would give up on it. Although, I wanted him to try to speak because even though I’m not fluent, I understand a lot, frustration grew on both ends. The assembly line was moving fast, so I felt pressure to move quickly. I also felt pressure to stack the bricks exactly like this man wanted, but I couldn’t seem to please him. Sometimes, he would ask the guy working beside me to take the brick and do it for me. Now that was frustrating. Stacking bricks isn’t rocket science! I thought to myself, “Maybe I should switch with someone. Another girl could do this job better.” We were on one of the last rows, and as I was going to put a brick down I hear, “Carolina.” I turn to look, and the man is telling me yet again what I was doing was wrong. So I went to fix it and as I did, the brick landed on my finger. Really hard.
In that moment, I just walked away. I could feel my heartbeat in my finger, and I wanted to cry because I was so frustrated. I held in the tears because I didn’t want to cry in front of all of those men- especially the one on the truck. So after I put myself together, I walked back over and the bricks were done. All stacked. I was so glad that part of my day was over.
I haven’t seen the man from the truck since.
Although that was a frustrating scenario, I can’t tell you how refreshing all of this manual labor has been. It’s so nice to physically be doing something, like building a house for someone. It feels like something is getting done.
After all of our negative interactions with men last month in Honduras, working alongside these men has been a breath of fresh air. Even though there is a language barrier, it’s obvious they care about us. A few of the girls have gotten hurt while at the site (nothing too serious, just fyi). Our leader, Lauren, got hit in the head with a rather large fruit. A little girl threw it at her and the guys told her to go home. One of the guys went to hug Lauren and held her head against his chest/belly. A sweet and comical picture. Another afternoon, Mollie was carrying a bucket full of water and tripped. She landed on the ground and water spilled everywhere. Everything in that moment stopped, because they were all so concerned. The hammers and shovels were set aside to make sure the muchacha was okay.
We are working alongside Papa Grande, his two sons, and a few other men. I think I’m partial to Papa Grande because his sweet demeanor reminds me of my dad. He also wears hats that my dad would wear.
Interacting with these men who treat us more like a daughter or friend has been so refreshing. They are protective over each of us. Each time we show up, there are more smiles and more conversation. Today, when we were getting ready to leave, they asked when we were coming back to help.
Even though it was a little slow and awkward in the beginning of the month, I’d say we have worked our way into their hearts. I know they have worked their way into mine.
Thank you so much for praying for my team! Please continue praying for us as we enter into our last week in Nicaragua.
Although this journey has been amazing so far, I am missing my people at home. Love you guys!
