After another breakfast together at the hotel, we headed back to the build site, eager to keep the momentum going. Before getting to work, I took a quiet moment to look into Regina’s current home — just a few steps behind the one we’re building. Made from aluminum sheeting, it includes a main living space, a separate cooking room, and a detached latrine. Even just peering inside, it was clear how limited the space is. It served as a powerful reminder of why we’re here — not just to build walls, but to help build safety, dignity, and a better future.
Back at the construction site, it was time to mix more cement plaster. With shovels in hand, our group got to work combining sand, water, and cement — a steady, shared effort that quickly turned into a rhythm of movement and teamwork. Once the mixture was ready, we began using it to bind new rows of bricks as we built up the outer walls of the home. Others on our team focused on preparing thick wire to secure the rebar for the roof — measuring, cutting, and bending piece after piece with care and precision.
After several solid hours of progress, we paused for lunch — another delicious meal shared with the family and crew. Once we finished eating, I connected to the speaker and started playing music. That’s when a few of the kids began to dance nearby, full of energy and joy. Four of them started showing off their moves, and one little girl came over, took my hands, and danced with me to ODESZA’s “Say My Name.” She was so full of cheer — it was one of those precious moments that makes time slow down for just a bit. A quiet connection, held in music and movement, that will stay with me long after the build is done.
Following lunch, we picked up right where we left off — finishing the wire preparation and continuing to lay bricks. And by day’s end, we did it: all four walls of the house now stand nine bricks tall. The full structure is visible — with space carved out for windows and doorways, and the shape of the home rising clearly from the foundation. The walls are up. The shape is clear. The space is real. It’s incredible what can be built in such a short time when people come together with a shared purpose.
Each day here is full of effort, connection, and moments that stay with you. I’m trying to live in the present as much as I can, but now that I’m reflecting, I can’t help but notice — we’re already over halfway through our work week. Just two days remain. Two more days to keep building, keep connecting, and keep soaking in this experience with our team and this community.
Time is moving fast, but the moments still feel full and unrushed. There are still more memories to make, more work to be done, more hands to hold — and we’re exactly where we need to be.
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