The rooster starts crowing at 3:40am...which ensures that we're up and ready to make it for our 6:55am departure for breakfast :)
Bleary eyed and full of hopeful enthusiasm we made our one hour commute to the first four build sites of the week, San Ramon Grifal. At the beginning of January, we find ourselves in a hot, dusty community, where many people, men and women work in the sugar cane fields.
It's harvest time, and for many of them, they rise with the roosters and make their way to the fields to cut, bundle and carry stalks of sugar cane. Each worker is assigned a section (or more) that measures 12 sq. metres. Their goal is to clear their section before it gets too hot...which happens around 10:00...
...which happens to be the time that we arrive in the village to begin building these houses. Many people from the community help us, some of whom will have been up, and already been to work in the fields. They will build with us until we leave, which today, wasn't until 5pm. Building down closer to sea level means the air is hotter and more humid, even the locals think it's hot. After three years away, we can't disagree. So we help each other, being mindful of the need for rest, breaks and lots of water.
Our team of 14 is split into two groups, one led by Pat Halls and the other led by Silas Allen. The houses get built, as we endeavour to make connections with the families, sharing a little of our lives and learning about theirs. It's always a humbling experience.
One family saved up for 4 years to buy the plot of land where their house was built today. Do you know what they paid for that small section of land...$137...no I didn't forget any zeros. They also contributed (as all recipient families do) $100 toward their home. In addition they take down their old home and do the hard work of levelling and preparing the land to receive their new home. Their sacrifice and commitment is significant. In a country where the poverty line is approx. $5.00 of income a day, many of our recipient families fall below that line. With a home, there is hope, there is safety for their children, their is protection from the heavy rains, and their is security from predators and thieves.
What we do makes a difference. Your conversations with Jesus on their behalf will help further their next steps.
