We woke up day 2 with aches all over our body in places we didn’t know could hurt. Despite the aches we were excited to see how much progress would be made by the end of the second day. We were told that day two would be easier than day one and that at the end of the day we would be able to physically see all the things we accomplished. The day would consist of framing the entire house along with placing all the rafters for the roof and putting up all the outside walls, and a “special” project that made it equally as difficult as day one!
Morning of day two and our nice level slab, the walls going up and the beautiful blue sky above, Justin helping with walls.
The morning started off kinda slow, the truck had a flat so it took about an extra hour to get the “extra” supplies to the site. Little did we know that when those “extra” supplies arrived it would consist of a truck bed full of gravel and sand to mix more concrete. This was our “special project”. While 6 of our team stayed behind to nail in all the walls to the foundation the other 7 of us started to the truck to see what would need to be carried back to the site. We were told to take all the empty buckets, and as we rounded the last corner and looked up the road at the truck we could see that the task ahead would be a daunting one. Bucket by bucket, 1/2 mile by 1/2 mile, we began what we felt like would be a never ending task. We would get to the top of the hill, fill our buckets with the rocks or equally heavy sand and make our way up and down the hills to the work site. Needless to say we had to take many breaks along the way.
Caring up the buckets through the narrow path, our two little helpers who would fill our buckets therefore giving us a break, Justin being a haus.
Blanca, the mother that we where building the house for would put us all to shame carrying a huge bucket on her head and other things in her hands. When she dumped her load of rocks she would take the bucket and run back to the truck! Seeing her working so hard kept us going. We worked at transporting all the rocks and sand for about 3 hours, and finished right as lunch arrived. We had never been so happy to see the bottom of the truck bed!
Our little Guatemalan helpers who made it the treck once, and Whitney and Allie bringing down buckets.
The afternoon went a lot better, we where able to stay on site and start putting the siding on all the outside walls. We quickly teamed up into groups to tackle each wall. Us four girls quickly found each other and started our all girls team (with the occasional help from our Guatemalan friend Carlos). It was amazing how well all of us worked together and before we knew it the girls had finished the first wall and the other groups where not even halfway through with their first one. Everyone pitched in and helped out where they could to get the siding finished.
The girls working hard to get our wall done, and our friend and helper Carlos.
Justin helping with the back wall and him entertaining anyone who would watch, Tiffany helping hold the siding level while Tina nails it in.
Through out the afternoon once again we had so many onlookers. There where two little girls, Linda & Jacqueline, who had sat at the site with their note book paper and marker and made every one of us little notes. Each note was unique with sentences in spanish that translated, “I love you with all my heart” or some variation. They where so proud and joyful to be blessing us with these homemade gifts and throughout the day would deliver them to each individual person. It was the sweetest thing!
Inside the house at the end of day two, walking to the bus at the end of the day with Linda, Jacqueline and Melissa.
Day two ended like it started, with the aches and pains of a long day but the excitement to see this home coming together so well with a group of people working together to show the love of Christ. That day we walked back to the bus tired, proud of our bodies for not giving out, and so blessed to have been able to do the work for the family. (oh and did I mention that we were told we would be finished with the house tomorrow!)
Outside the house at the end of day two, Blanca is the lady on the far right. Us and one of our many views along our walk to the site.
For more information about Casas Por Christo and how you can get involved visit their website.
