Here are some pictures of the initial 2 days working on our first site for the Porvenir Construction Project. We built 3 bathrooms and 2 showers for a group of about 30 relatives living on this property in 5 or 6 houses. These pictures are from January 21st and 22nd and we have since finished the project. I have plenty more pictures and videos to come!
Before
To get to the property, you have to cross over a tiny cement bridge and planks of wood because there is a small stream of water. There was no way to drive a truck to the back in order to unload our materials so we carried everything from the street---rocks, cinder blocks, tools, etc.
It was tedious...
but even the kids helped!!
It took lots of people...
and lots of hours!
Jim (our fearless leader) beginning the digging process!!
It was tough to break up the hard dirt. Here is Andrew with the pickaxe!
Don't let them fool you--we used the wheelbarrow to move rocks too!
But it was probably more fun for the kids to play in :)
Beginning to unload one of the trucks...
using lots of teamwork!
It took two of us to move what the men of the family could carry by themselves.
Me and Emily carrying one bag of cement...
One of the dads carrying two--on his back!
An attempt at first aid, but she wasn't havin' it.
Water break for our little workers!
Playing with the shovels on a break from digging.
This was pretty much an all day process.
Moving more rocks!
Our dirt and rock piles are growing and we are attracting an audience!
Setting up the perimeter for the giant hole...
and pounding in the stakes.
Some previous volunteers came back to visit over the holidays and built chicken coops for this family.
When the chickens lay eggs,
the families can both eat
and sell them.
Still digging...
but happy to be doing it!!
As we got down deeper, we hit water.
This dad was not afraid to get his hands, well, legs dirty.
Getting creative with our method for pulling mud out of the giant hole...
It looks like a mudslide, but we had to put the dirt somewhere!
One of the cutest little boys :) He was always smiling and always running around naked!
The rock pile served as a great spot for spectators :)
Causing trouble...!
Digging out the trenches.
Still trying to break up the hard dirt.
The other Carly (a volunteer from Canada)!
Chris, looking intense :)
A shot from the far corner of the property.
Some of the dads hard at work.
One of our goals for the project was to have the families participate in the construction and it was an awesome experience to work alongside them.
Getting creative with my camera settings...
and feeling artistic :)
Even with all of our construction tools, the machete often came in handy.
Too cute :):)
Love these kids <3
One of the tiniest kids playing on the sand pile.
Of course, they played in the wheelbarrows.
He could also carry the cement bags on his head!
The trenches are looking good!
A view from the back of the property. Not a bad place to be working outside ;) It was as if we were building bathrooms in the middle of Jurassic Park!
A shot of their old outhouse--with one toilet and a full septic tank!
Rock assembly line.
Filling in the trenches with rocks.
The rocks are meant to provide stability for the structure once cement is poured over them and blocks are laid.
Time to pack up for Day 1...
I was obviously not using that saw... or the tool belt. :):)
Awesome finish to Day 1 and Jim looks pretty proud!!
Loading the tools for Day 2... I sat in the back and tried to keep everything from falling out.
Scott Ledford (one of the Christian missionaries in El Porvenir) offered a lot of advice for this project and lent us some tools.
We borrowed his pump...
to try to drain the water...
which was quite the process.
We couldn't get all of the water and mud out, but we eventually got most of it!
We lined the sides of the hole with rocks. Shout out to Liz who was dirty for days after this photo was taken ;)
Rock assembly line Take 2...
and go!
Making progress!
We put mud over the rocks lining the walls.
Water break turned photo shoot...
We worked hard, but there was time to play too :):)
And to take pictures!
<3
*All of these awesome kids are the motivation behind this project*
Mixing cement... the Honduran way.
Using shovels, you mix together a couple of cement bags with sand.
Then you make a small volcano with water (technical terms!).
And you mix it all together! We usually had about 5 people mixing the pile at once.
Then we used buckets to move it.
Filling in the trenches with cement.
Preparing to lay blocks.
Reaching a stopping point: we generally worked from early in the morning until just after sunset.
Day 2 coming to a close...
Sweaty, dirty, and exhausted... but happy :D
