The following article was contributed by a Global Village trip participant.
It is Friday night. I am filthy and exhausted and happy. The filth and exhaustion hopefully require little explanation. We just finished a week of hole-digging (in red clay), post-setting, mixing cement and rocks, and putting in concrete wall panels that easily weigh over 100 pounds each. Each house has dozens of panels. We did all of this in 90-degree heat, little shade, and high humidity.
Today was only a half-day on site. This afternoon was a celebration with members of the Biolley community: cake, music, football (the real football you play with your feet), and a horrifying game involving children swinging sticks in close quarters called “piñata.”
It’s a mixed bag on the last day. There are a lot of emotions going on. It feels good to be done with the week, it’s sad to go, I want to stay and keep working (and not just because it’s still snowing in Minnesota). The food here has been fantastic, and I feel guilty wanting to go home and eat a donut. But I still want a donut.
This week has been a pure joy. We are leaving something permanent behind – two new homes with walls up and ready to get roofs. Those houses are part of a larger neighborhood of dozens of Habitat homes that will change this area permanently. Relationships have also been built. I have over 20 new friends who joined me for the week, and this experience creates bonds that will hopefully last a lifetime. We’ve also built relationships with members of the Biolley community, and that is priceless.
This is my third Global Village trip. I certainly see more Costa Rica trips in my future. I love this stuff so much I’m leading a Global Village trip to India in November (shameless plug!). So, for me, this is more than just a week. It’s a part of what is suddenly turning into a lifelong process of building homes and hope around the world.
This week may be over, but the memories will live on for years to come. I hope to see you on the build site (in MSP or overseas) in the near future!
Peace,
Jon Slock
Becky Engen
Becky Engen : 9:30 AM on March 20, 2014
