Build Day 5 & Goodbye

There are no words to express the moments we shared today. The family came to see our progress and our Habitat officers initiated a goodbye ceremony. By that time we had completed four layers of brick in and around the house by spreading the mortar and wrenching bars to the vertical rebars for additional support. We had filled up all the rooms with sand (kitchen / living room, bathroom, and bedrooms) and flattened the surface before the layer of tile is added. At the end of the workday we all wrote our names on the outside bricks with chalk so that we can forever be a part of this house. 

When the family saw the progress we made they were astonished and repeatedly told us how thankful they were that we left our jobs and our families to help them start their life with this home. The woman, Yancy, began to cry as she told us how blessed she feels that God sent us here on this mission. She had waited years for this moment and couldn't express her infinite thanks enough. By the end of the speeches we were all in tears, including our masonries Antonio, Jose, and Mario. They said they have never had a group of volunteers, and that they built the last Habitat house with just the three of them. Antonio, the lead masonry, told us that each Habitat house takes six weeks, and for the week that we were there we finished nearly half of it. He waved goodbye and gazed with glossy eyes as we all loaded into the busses to leave for the last time with heavy hearts. I will forever remember the compassion and patience that he expressed each and every day we were working together. He never was frustrated with the language barrier for some of us and was always ready to lend a helping hand and teach us along the way. He laughed every day we were working together, even if he didn't understand what everyone was saying, but he would always try. 

Each Habitat build is always different in its own unique way, and each one offers the opportunity to grow bonds with people you would've never otherwise connected with. This group of volunteers was extremely hard working and motivated to complete our daily tasks. They are all so selfless and have a real passion for what they believe in, and that's the mission Habitat has instilled in all of us. We were all brought together to serve God by serving others and making a true impact on a family's life. But this week hasn't just impacted the family, it has impacted the community, the masonries, the Habitat officers, and all of us. Seeing everyone come together today, no matter the circumstance of language or what have you, was a blessing. We are all people that want the same things: To help with our hands and to love with our hearts. I believe that is the greatest and most valuable gift a person can ever offer.