El Salvador: Day 4

Today we got all the leveling done at our (Jody’s team’s) house, so I had an opportunity to help the mason level all the string lines and help him do the squaring up of the house. He had done the whole 3-4-5, which means on the square it was 30 inches one way, 60 inches another way, and 90 inches across on the triangle. He used a level that was a hose with water in it. He would put the one end of the level on the spot that he had marked, and then he would move it up and down until all the water quit moving, and that meant it was level. Tomorrow morning, we will start digging footings, and we hope to get the footings done tomorrow. We also hope to get rebars done on Thursday and maybe pour concrete on Friday. I am one of those people that likes to get something done or have something to show. When we walk away from this site, hopefully the family can feel that we have something to show for what we got done. Sure, leveling the ground and all that is important, but seeing concrete laying on the ground or in footings makes us feel like we have accomplished something this week. The whole key, though, is the way people interact with the families and kids of El Salvador. You know, the kids playing soccer and the girls playing with leaves with the kids and just enjoying the moment. We get caught up in the thought that we’ve got to get a bunch done instead of creating relationships that will last forever. I hope we can continue to do both this week. 

Gary

El Salvador: Day 3

Today we split up into two groups and worked on different sites. There were eight on one team and nine on the other. One of the houses we started from scratch. The other had already progressed so far that the footings had been poured. Jody’s team spent the entire day hauling dirt to the back alley behind the house to level the build site. Roger’s team spent the day moving bricks, sifting sand, and mixing and applying chizpa, a cementing mixture, to the bricks. It was fun to finally get to meet the families that we will be working with for the week. They worked alongside us along with friends and neighbors. There are fewer of them and they accomplish far more than we do, but they enjoy working with us and laughing with/at us. Jody’s team sang 80’s songs while working in the blazing sun. Roger’s team enjoyed playing fútbol with the boys in their backyard, otherwise known as a pasture surrounded by beautiful mountains, after lunch. The family that Jody’s team was working with welcomed the team into their home for lunch and were very gracious. Roger’s team got to see some friends from last year that they had worked with. A neighbor at Roger’s team’s worksite offered her wheelbarrow to help move bricks and spoke about how there is a time for everything, including work and rest. Becca taught a camp handshake and song to one of the boys at their build site and made an instant friend. We had a lively team meeting tonight and shared all of the wonderful stories from the day and laughed at Nila’s laugh. We are excited to continue to build relationships with the families and make progress on our build sites this week. As our team motto states: Spread the Gospel. Words not necessary. 

God bless! 

The Sheridan Lutheran El Salvador Mission Team

written by Kelli, Becca, and Corinne

Huskers in El Salvador