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Today, despite being referred to by the Habitat jefes (“bosses”) as a dura dia (a hard day; Nicaraguans often drop the “s” in conversation for words like dias), actually was fun for some of us.  The plan was morning breakfast and be at the work site by 8AM.  Minus scheduled breaks and a lunch we optimistically looked forward to finishing the house by 4:30PM.

 Chey, mixing the dry materials for concrete

This fuerte chica was invaluable to our team!

Ashley and Megan carefully mixing the dry materials with the water

However, children and dogs wanted to play with us; villagers came bearing gifts; and much of the work was segmented into hurry-up-and-wait operations.  A mixture of sand, rocks, dry cement substrate, and water on the ground near the street, for example, is what creates our cement.  The dry materials are first assembled in piles.  Then the masons, Marcos and Danilo, beckon for water, only once other cement preparation benchmarks have also been met.  The idea is to prepare cement just before it is used.  My educated guess is this is done to prevent premature hardening and account for potential delay.  The flow of events today left a rotating portion of the team unoccupied.  These persons were able to observe the soil improvement steps in action, entertain the children, or miscellanea. 

During this surveillance time, I made a number of small observations.  For example, it apparently takes time to pour cement and level it.  When I was a kid watching cement poured into my own driveway, it looked easy.  Today the physical labor required is more apparent.  Perhaps one becomes more aware of such sensations as proximity to the worksite increases, and the probability that one will be called to participate increases as well. 

Keeping that in mind, a lot of prep work needs to be done in order to properly pour cement.  We put up section dividers made of wood in the area where the cement was to go.  The masons then walked along these dividers to access all of the cement to level and smooth it.  The dividers are removed once the cement has begun to harden, and new cement replaces the divots.      

Even before this, we had to dig to clear and level the floor space.  On top of the ground we added our own special brand of soil.  Not sure what this stuff is, but it looked like dirt (and probably tasted like it).  My guess is the special soil is meant to consist of particles that are resistant to shifts and movement once compressed by a cement topping.  Joe Kirsch, the resident architect from our group, informs me that it’s sometimes difficult to prevent cement from cracking.  But the attempt to control this eventuality (read: “And the world is passing away along with its desires”, 1 John 2:17) is generally done by ensuring a level surface, drainage, good soil, cement quality, etc.  In my opinion the cement should last a while because it is surrounded on four sides by hard cement walls held in place by deep foundations.  I don’t expect the family will experience much water erosion on the site underneath the home.  Additionally, if they do notice missing soil, they can simply shovel more into the problem area.  

The third important step was tamping the ground with giant metal beams--essentially pounding the ground with tools to make sure it is tightly packed down.  The cementing operation took all day.  Turns out we needed over four batches of cement just for the floor, another two or three for an apron in the front and back of the house.

Ashley took some video of Megan juggling.  I unfortunately don’t think I’ll be posting that video now, but stay tuned.  Nelson, our driver for the week, started using a lot of English.  He had no English but has been gradually learning phrases such as “Can I help you” and “Close the windows”, much to the delight of the crowd.  Yours truly did not feel well today, probably the slightly delayed result of ignoring wise consul from my elders extolling the importance of vaccinations.  So get vaccinations!  The silver lining was that Giaconda made some medicinal tea for my stomach.  Her son also put on a recorder concert for us and did some serious digging to help complete a treacherous portion of prep work for a cement layer behind the house.

At lunch we were blessed to meet the head honchos of Habitat para la Humanidad Nicaragua and chat.  Intellectual curiosity got the best of us and we learned a lot about the two political parties in Nicaragua and its political history.  An interesting fact is that the parties are known by the numbers 1 and 2 for voting purposes, which apparently necessitates placement of black graffiti “2’s” on every telephone pole for miles in and around Esteli.

The Ruiz family could not be happier.  It is a testament to the power of our Lord that his works shine so brightly through the dust and worries of our short lives.  We drove past another house built by Habitat today after lunch, and the smiles on the faces of the owner and his son standing by it were gigantic and full of boundless gratitude.  It reminded me once again that though we contribute but a small part of ourselves, it means so much more to those receiving it.  Like the parable of the Good Samaritan, we have paused on the road to help a neighbor.  Just as it may have been only a slight inconvenience to the Good Samaritan, to his beneficiary he was clearly sent by God.  This has been true of us as well, since the good we accomplish in Nicaragua is in accord with God’s plan and attributed all to Him.

    

Another comment on the spiritual dimension: today Gioconda made us snacks, juice, tea, and coffee at various points.  She also would not accept payment from Habitat for these things despite her obvious need.  It reminded Amanda immediately of Mark 12:41-44 where the widow gave only two copper coins to an offering plate, though it was much because it was all she had.  Jesus praised the quality of this woman’s offering at the time, and we should realize the depth of giving expressed by Gioconda.  The mason Marcos also gifted to the group a large, red conch shell he said he found in Leon, which was obviously something he liked that he gave away out of generosity.                     

As has probably been said before, this family makes $192 a year through a small tortilla business and Arnoldo’s job as a security guard.  It may be known to some readers, but even in Nicaragua, this is very, very little money.  One can easily spend $4-5 on a lunch here; batteries and other items that are imported, which is most things, are the same price as in the US; consumables in general range from half the price to full price of what I am used to paying in the US for the same good.  There is a lot of farming here which probably helps keep basic food prices lower (for those who know where to buy it at local prices), but even this is not the answer since a lot of food grown is then exported, forcing local consumers to compete with international buyers on price. 

Nobody doubts these statistics, but it seems unreal.  One night we had devotion as a team and discussed our changing impressions of the country.  General accord among the team was that the infrastructure was more developed than we expected.  I personally packed a tent and survival equipment in case it was needed, mostly because I was here a few days early.  But the country has electricity and running water in most places.  Hotels especially are stocked with the latest accoutrements.  It surprised most of us, but we are getting used to the idea that humans live with the same visual and auditory stimulus as we do in the USA while knowing they can afford none of it.  I saw a young boy walking to school today with a small, pink backpack—that has to be because he has no other option.

In the end, we know that it is our God who showers all blessings on us, and gives us everything.  We came into the world with nothing and will leave it the same way.  And so, let not our possessions get in the way of Jesus’s statement to us: “By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:35.