Highlights and Lowlights

By Sarah Elderkin

Hello everyone back in the States! 

Today, many of us woke up to the sound of music playing on the street for the Tuesday market. It was a slower morning, and throughout the day it was apparent that many of us were more tired than yesterday. Despite the difficulties of laying concrete, we (and I think I speak for all of the build teams when I say this) still worked very well together. Things were slightly tenser as the day went on. As everyone got tired, it was harder to stay motivated. With a little late afternoon encouragement, we pulled it off! And at the end of an extended work day, all of the sites had finished concrete floors.

The highlights and lowlights of the day were intense! We were able to spend a lot of time with the kids today, and the families never ceased to astound us. I was especially impressed at how they helped us on the houses. Everyone pitched in, including the small children. The men stood fearlessly in the cement in their sandals. At one point, they complimented us on our work, then asked if they could help, then proceeded to request that they simply did it for us. They knew what they were doing far better than us, and their help was essential to our success.

Each of us has noticed the ups and downs of the trip so far. At times we find ourselves standing on the build site with nothing to do (since there are many people working), feeling frustrated. On the flip side, we also all have been working hard, and felt as though we were doing more work than anyone else on the team. Everyone in the group wants to contribute constantly, but the work itself is inconsistent. Group work is difficult! But so far we’ve kept it together through all of the struggles. I am incredibly proud of everyone on the team, and it’s evident that we’re building relationships with each other and the families on site, and I’m excited for the rest of the week.

Sending love back from all of us here,

Sarah