We all gathered right after breakfast to get our
refresher/instructions on putting together the panels right here on the grounds
of our lovely hotel.
Our goal is to make today and tomorrow 54 panels in total –
half to be painted by us, half to be painted by the new house owner (he will
paint those once the house is up). We split out into 3-4 person groups with each
group contributing the number of panels each group was able to make over the
course of the day. We weren’t the
quickest off the start but gained speed/efficiency as we went along. We closed the day with 20 panels done and 34
to go tomorrow. The weather cooperated with us – no rain but
overcast (so sheltered from direct sun effects) and a refreshing breeze every
once in a while.
While others were building panels, Christine and I went with
Pastor Carlos and Manuel to help with the foundation on the first house we’ll
work on. On the way there and on the way
back, we stopped at the home of the family for whom we will be building the
second house. That family has just been
blessed with a new birth approximately a week ago so we were only able to meet
the husband, brother, sister-in-law and the four other children who ranged in
age from 2 to 6.
Helping with the foundation consisted of “anchoring” the
cement blocks (upon which the panels will be mounted) with our own personally
mixed mortar. After a few hours of that,
remaining stuck-on mortar was removed with our trowels and a lot of elbow
grease.
Back at the hotel after sunset, we joined the rest of the
group in the pool. Most of them had been
to the beach to enjoy the waves.
Dinner was out at our local outside pizza parlor
“Pepperoni’s.”
We’re all in high spirits and looking forward to finishing
the panels tomorrow.
Written by Jane Miller
