Second day - Tuesday

It is our second day in Costa Rica, and yet again it is very hot and very sunny. Although it is their rainy season, we have been blessed with dry weather and are able to get lots of work done. We started with morning devotion, today’s message was about Abraham and we were reminded that no one’s work is more important than another’s. We are all important and without each of us, the houses would not be built.

Today the teams worked hard to get 49 of the 50 panels completed. The cement board panels are assembled to be the walls of the homes which are 24 ft. by 24 ft. We also built 8 window panels and 3 doors per home. The team is getting very good at using the drills, power saws and paint rollers.

The highlight of our day today was going to the site where the first home will be built. We call it the blue house because the walls are painted a baby blue. The concrete slab was poured before we arrived so it is prepared for the walls to be constructed. We loaded Maximo’s pickup truck with several heavy panels and drove the 1 Kilometer to the site. We had to cross the creek so fortunately the water is not too high. The man whose home we are building, Alan, met us and helped to unload the truck with a big smile on his face. We met his wife who is due with their 3^rd child in August. They also have a small son and daughter shown smiling in this photo.

The group in this photo, Mike, Patty, Stacy, Sarah, Byron and Anton are standing on a log that is used by the locals to cross the river. By the end of the day, the walls for the blue house were all standing. It now needs the roof, electricity and windows.

After our long work day, we all headed to the Playa Garza beach for some relaxation and swimming in the Pacific Ocean. The waves are high and the water warm. The sunsets here are spectacular. Everyone is in good spirits and we are working hard to help these wonderful people.

The work begins...

Christine and Cal told us that Costa Rica is a beautiful place, but nothing can describe what it is like here!!!! We had a LONG drive from San Jose to the Nosara area yesterday, but there was something more beautiful to look at  every turn! This country is so green and full of color and life!!!
Today began with a wonderful breakfast, including the best fresh fruit! Then Maximo explained that our goal was to make 50 panels for the 2 homes by 4:15 in the afternoon...We are able to make the panels right here at the place where we are staying, so we started right after breakfast. Tomorrow we will go to the place where the houses are actually being built and we will get to meet the families.
There was a bit of chaos as we first began the work of figuring out who was in each group and how to actually assembly the panels made of cement board and wood. We did have to make sure that family members were not together in the groups for the construction. After about an hour, what Maximo said would happen did....we were all in our groups and work was progressing along so well. There was even a little friendly competition between the family members. I think it really spurred us on to do well.
It was HOT, HOT, HOT as we worked today! We all worked to be sure we were hydrated and healthy. Many of us doused ourselves with cold water at lunchtime to cool off!
Not sure how many panels we actually got finished, but it was not quite the goal of 50. We will finish them  tomorrow. We did stop working at about 5 P. M. and all headed to the beach. It is the Pacific Ocean and the beach is beautiful and the waves were incredible! We had a lot of fun playing in the waves and saw a wonderful sunset!
Right now we are waiting for dinner to begin. We are all so grateful to be here in this wonderful place.

Some of us at the garden behind the restaurant where we ate dinner.

A fruit stand on the way from San Jose to Las Delicias

Working monday on panels.

The first team to complete a panel with windows.

On the beach after our first workday.

...And the sunsets on our first fantastic day in Costa Rica.

2214 miles from Chicago - and a world away;

We have arrived safely, and very tired.  Our day started at 3:00 am in Chicago's Ohare airport, and has just ended at 11:00 pm mountain time in Las Delicias in Costa Rica..

We will update tomorrow with pictures and our story.

Thursday October 9


We visited the 9th ward and were surprised at the building that was being done. About 5 - 8 houses have been built and it appears that there is a project to build many more. Unknown to us, Brad & Angelina & family were visiting the 9th ward the same time we were there! 2 blocks from Brad and we didn't even know it! Some of the new houses were much larger than the former houses. We also visited Habitat's Musician's Village and were happy to see how many of the pretty, mulicolor houses were completed.

Our house crew leaders, Ashley and Stacy are from the Americorps program. They are wonderful, talented, dedicated young women. We have enjoyed working with them and getting a glimpse into their lives.

Tonight we attended a party in the French Quarter to celebrate Women's Build week. Lots of volunteers and local dignitaries were there. Pink hammers were awarded to the volunteers who make the project a success. Liz McCartney, one of founders has been chosen, along with 9 other folks throughout the US, as a CNN Hero. CNN is having a vote for who is the top "Hero" and you can help St. Bernard Project by going to their site and voting for Liz. They will receive $100,000 if she wins. So in good Chicago fashion, vote early and often and maybe we can help this great
organization.



It is hard to believe that our week will be over tomorrow. We have completed the drywall in several rooms in Wanda's house as well as several closets and the hall. No major injuries, although Debbie will need keep her feet on the ground from now on!

Wednesday, October 8

Perfect weather--we don't sweat today so we want to continue working...our Americorp advisors tell us we have to leave because they have to leave!

The house begins to look more and more like a home as we put up more and more wallboard. It goes faster as we become more proficient. We talk and laugh a lot.

Tonight we went to an open house at a just-finished St. Bernard Project home. It gleams--tile floors, clean walls and beaming owners. We see the trailer they have lived in since Katrina. A lot of contrast. And yet next door there is a house still being worked on by the owner herself.

We go to a local Cajun restaurant for supper--real Louisiana seafood. A man stops to thank us for coming to help.

It is a good day.

Monday, October 6
Monday dawned bright, beautiful, hot and humid. Our day began with a meeting at St. Bernard Project Headquarters. We were all inspired by the words of Zack and then headed off to begin our work with energy, enthusiasm and high expectations.

We were very fortunate to be able to work together at the home of Wanda in Chalmette. Wanda's home held 8 feet of standing water for several days. She and her 87 year old mother evacuated to her brother's home. When they returned to see their home, Wanda didn't even recognize her furniture.

Wanda came by on Monday morning with ice, gatorade and muffins, and shared her story and heartfelt thanks. Her words were hopeful and positive, but emotional, especially when she spoke of her loss of treasured photos of her younger brother who died as a child.

We spent the rest of the day hanging drywall in the bedroom, utility room and closets. Marian, a self-professed 'watcher' was a pro with the utility knife and screw drill by the end of the day!

Thanks Marian! We'll post more pictures and stories Wednesday night!

NOLA-Women's Rebuild

Sunday, October 5

Well, we 7 gals from Lombard & Villa Park left Chicago on Sunday morning, and arrived in 75º NOLA and headed to St. Bernard Parish and Camp Hope.

Camp Hope is a former middle school, converted after Hurricane Katrina to a volunteer base camp for people who are helping to "rebuild 'da parish". Our room has 10 or 11 bunkbeds with real mattresses (but no comfort guarantee!) and AIR CONDITIONING!

After dumping our gear and getting Sandra settled in her hotel downtown, we walked the French Quarter. Highlights were street musicians and artists, great seafood po boy's, biengnets and coffee. We even got rained on a bit (Shaw's luck!).

We got back to Camp Hope and met Mr. John in the cafeteria, who informed us that Camp Hope is rumored to be haunted (but they 'won't hut cha'). Mary and Jeri slept by the door and protected us all--they slept like rocks. Deb Curtiss and Marian had a plan all set to tie the bedsheets together and escape out the window!

Thanks Jeri for doing the first blog post!