At the Airport in San Jose - Headed Home

Day Six Photos

We lost internet connection last night so I wasn't able to post pix of our last day of work.  Here they are.

Jorge (Grande) - a Habitat homeowner and member of the Habitat Costa Rica Board of Directors - and very funny.

Jorge (Pequeno), our builder, and the future homeowner.

Jorge Grande with two 50 kilo bags of cement on his back. I had a hard time with one!

Finally, the last concrete slab is in place!

The whole gang.

Greddy, Habitat leader, and Eric, Habitat volunteer from San Francisco, with the family between them at our final night celebration.

Day Six Recap

Today we completed our work on the house.  Literally, we did as much as we possibly could given the available resources.  Most of the walls are up and the septic hole and trench are complete.  The next task for them is to lay the plumbing and pour the floor. The house is 45 square meters, not very large for a family of five - two bedrooms, one bath, living room and kitchen.  It is a vast improvement over where they currently live.
After work, we had a party with some of the Habitat staff, the new homeowner family, and a few others at a camp that the owners are fixing up in an attempt to attract eco-tourists.  Interesting!  After swimming in the river and playing a little volleyball, we gathered for refreshments, followed by some speeches and the presentation of certificates to each member of our team.  We were all moved - both the locals and each of us.

Day Five Recap

Wednesday on the job site was very much like the day before.  We made great headway on the septic pit and managed to set many of the columns in cement.  Today, we should complete our tasks and then some.  Apparently, we accomplished more than any other group - they probably say that to all the groups:)

We had a surprise visit from Rafael Vargas, the National Director of Habitat para la Humanidad Costa Rica.  He addressed the group and surveyed the site and then I met with him and Jeimy, the country fundraiser.  I was struck by how the conversation was so similar to one that might take place in Jacksonville.  It was like Mary Kay (HabiJax president and CEO) and me meeting with a potential donor.  The words that describe what we do are the same, the mission is the same, the passion is the same.  I so enjoy being part of a global community sharing the common bond of fulfilling the Habitat mission of providing housing solutions to people who live in substandard or poverty housing.  What a blessing to be part of such a life transforming organization!!!

Thursday is our last day on site.  Hard to believe how quickly the time has passed.  Wednesday evening during supper we went around the table and reflected on our experience.  Some talked about meeting and playing with neighborhood children, some about how hard the family work on their sweat equity, others about how possible it seems to be happy while living so much more simply than most of us do in America. All of the adults commented on how proud we are of the teenagers in our group who have worked so hard and had such a positive attitude.  They have been wonderful!