There is no greater feeling then doing something for someone who can never repay you....

Today was our final day. It is always a bittersweet day at the start as you know you will be finishing the house and leaving. I feel that way every year...we will complete the 6th house we have built for FHTH's. Our friends, the Dickerson's, will complete their 2nd, and our rookies, the Nelsons will complete their first.  We have had a great time. We have worked very hard, however I will quote a young man from Atlanta. "It is the hardest work you will ever love."

Today we stopped at Clinicas Medicas San Jose in Pastores to show the volunteers who have never been there what it is all about. It was beautiful to see that the waiting room was full, the pediatrician was busy, and the dentist also had a patient in her chair. This warms my heart. I know that these people are getting good treatment, most importantly being treated with dignity. The clinic is beautiful and the staff are dedicated.  It is only a couple of years ago that my friend Jessica and I, while building in Santa Maria de Jesus, said, "Wouldn't it be great if there was a health clinic." Thanks to a very generous benefactor there is.  I met 2 young boys this week that needed health care. I am so grateful that we will be able to do everything we can to help them. I will get back to that later.

We arrive at our work site, for that one last climb up that big hill.  There are children, as we go up the hill greeting us with a big 'Hola!"  They are in tattered clothes, there faces are filthy, but their smiles light up your world. They are just to cute.  I often wonder what it is like for them when the "gringos" are finished and we no longer show up.  It is a bright spot of their day.

When we arrive at our work site, the families have cleaned the areas, and their is no sign of a construction site except for the block home sitting so beautifully on their property. When we left yesterday, there was a concrete pile, ripped up concrete bags, just a big construction mess. It looks beautiful today. Volunteers will paint the house while the Guatemalan men install the roof, window, and door.  Our house will be green on the outside and blue on the inside, the Nelsons is a darker blue on the outside and yellow on the inside and the Dickerson's is blue on the outside and orange on the inside.  All three will look beautiful when they are done.

Nick is mixing the paint

The paint is a powder and it is mixed with water. The paint brushes are small brushes with the brush part only about 1 to 2 inches wide. The concrete block is so porous that the paint just absorbs into it. We all get right to it. It is an easy day as far as the physical challenge goes. 

I notice lots of hustle bustle on the family's part, there are 4 women in the tiny kitchen here. I mean tiny, it is probably smaller then my bathroom. They are peeling and chopping. I am sure they are making lunch for us. I wish they would not because it is a cost I would prefer they did not incur, however, it is a beautiful gesture.

The children are running around having lots of fun. They also love to help paint. The have so much fun and feel so much a part of the process.

Christel, her cousin and Marissa paint the house. Little Pedro watching.

In the middle of painting Marissa tells me that the ice cream man is at the bottom of the hill. I told her to go wave him up here. We have not seen him all week because we could not hear the music up on this mountain. He does come up today however, and when we yell, "helado" the kids and adults come running. We are happy to see that everyone who wants ice cream gets some. It is 1 quetzal for an ice cream cone, homemade ice cream. (100 quetzals = $12)  As I am standing watching I notice a woman has come out of her house with a child in her arms who is rather big to be carried. I can see by his face that he is "special"  I go over to see him and she allows me to hold him. He is five years old and he cannot walk. When it is our turn in line, and I get his ice cream cone is when I realize he cannot see either, as he does not take the ice cream cone when I hand it to him. This is always sad, however in a poverty ridden area this can be even worse. I ask our worker Henio to translate for me. I am unclear why he cannot walk, however she does explain clearly that he went blind one year ago when he had a sever gastro intestinal infection and high fever for many days. Can you imagine? These are the kind of things that can happen when you live in poverty. I find it intolerable in a world that has so much money. Think about this, this family cannot get the special services they need because they have no money and they live in a country where the government does not care. Kim Kardashian buys Kanye West a $750,000 Lamborghini for his birthday. Now I am not picking on Kim K., although she is completely unaware of what is truly important in life, but there is something gone wrong here....just sayin!!! I quickly figure out hat this little bot who's name is "Tony" loves to get kisses, but you have to make the kissing sound. At this point I think I gave him a 100 kisses because the smile he displays after a kiss is brilliant.

Immediately after ice cream the families tell us it is time for lunch. The Bakers and The Nelson's have lunch together with there families and the Dickerson's have lunch in their home with their family. They set a beautiful table for us and serve us steak, black beans, fresh guacamole, salsa, tortillas, and bread. Coke to drink. I just cannot do it. I always ask our worker Henio to sit by me, and I casually serve him mine. Everyone else ate and said they enjoyed it. Just an FYI, I don't eat black beans mashed up in any country not just here.(*.*) We had a lot of fun!!

Time to finish painting. Every body's house looks so good!! The families are excited, as are we for them, however there is that gnawing feeling that soon it will be time to go. I mean it when I say it never gets old. The bond you feel with these families is incredibly strong and it comes on very fast. You cannot help but feel some level of love and a very deep respect for people that live this very challenging lifestyle everyday. The amazing part is this. I have built 7 houses, and I will say I have met probably a few hundred people, however NEVER, have I heard one complaint. I have seen sadness through the eyes of a Mom with a sick child, which is normal, and I have seen people do everyday tasks that should be easy, be extremely difficult, like walking a mile to get 5 gallons of water and doing it ten times a day, and it is quite possible that they only get water once a week on that day. NO COMPLAINTS!  That is the beauty of these amazing people.

Oscar and Joe arrive which means it is time for the closing ceremonies. This is always an emotional event, but there is no way that I could have predicted what happened today. Oscar speaks to the families in Spanish first and then translates. He tells them about the FHTH project and who Joe is. He explains to them that we are volunteers that have come here for this one purpose. The house is a gift to them and we only ask 2 things in return. We ask that they take good care of the house and most importantly, that if anyone, a neighbor, a friend or family member asks them for help that they return the gesture.  A pay it forward kind of thing. He explains to them at each house has a plaque with a number on it, the names of who built their home and sometimes who it is dedicated to. After that each family is presented with a key to their house. This is a very emotional moment. Again I cannot tell you how connected you feel. They then express their gratitude to you, they are so grateful. Our Mom, Nicalosa, who I have gotten to know, begins to cry. Not in a million years do they think that this house would have been a possibility for them. They are very religious and ask God to bless us and they tell us they will always think of us. We shared the ceremony in the Nelson house with their family. We now return to our house with our family to take pictures. and give them the gifts we bought them.

This is our group with our family and the two FHTH;s workers,Juan Jose and Edgar

After we are done I wander down to the Dickerson house to observe their closing ceremony. I need you to understand that as I am writing this, again, it has brought me to tears. This is what happened. Oscar finished his part and then the family was expressing their gratitude. First the Mom and then the Dad. After they were done the 10 year old son, Carlos, said that he wanted to say something. Let me go back a couple of days. While working on the house Taylor Dickerson was speaking with Carlos. They were talking about soccer, and he said his favorite team was Barcelona. When we were shopping the other night Taylor bought a soccer ball and a Barcelona jersey for Carlos.  So he begins to express his gratitude for the ball and the jersey and he says a couple of words and covers his face with his hands, he is crying so hard he cannot speak. Oscar tries to help him and Oscar begins to cry, and then all of us are in tears. As hard as I try I cannot describe this beautiful moment to you. When he is able to speak again he said, "Thank you, I have wished for this forever."  Again  as I write this it moves me deeply. Taylor and her family made this little boy's dream come true, they had no idea that he had "wished" for this, it was just a simple and sincere gesture on their part. These are the moments that you cannot predict, these are the moments that make the hard work worth while. They quickly replace the memory of an aching back or a sore shoulder. These are the moments that you will NEVER forget. A favorite quote of mine goes something like this: There is no better feeling then to do something for someone that can never repay you. Believe me, truer words were never spoken. This why I love this experience so much.

After the 3 closing ceremonies it is "Fiesta Time."  We purchased a pinata at the store the other night. A great big hot pink angry bird. Every body loves the pinata, the kids, the parents, the grandparents. This is a happy finale to a wonderful week.  Just take a look at all the smiling faces. Check out Sam as the pinata after it is over.

It is time for good byes. We have one more trip down the mountain, but not until some tearful good byes. I know I have said it before but I love it here in this beautiful village of Santa Maria de Jesus. There is something so spiritually invigorating about it to me. Sure, there is litter, and bathrooms that are difficult to use for someone from my life style, there is unsafe water, and sickly looking dogs everywhere. The beauty of it though, is that these extraordinary Mayan Indians with a rich culture of their own have created a life for their families that consists of love, a deep sense of loyalty, and a dedication to their children with the hopes of a better way of life. They are just like us. Each and every day they hope for a healthy family, happy children, and that God will meet all their needs...even if it takes a long time to get those needs met. Like wishing for a safe and secure home to provide them with comfort, security, and protection from the elements. Three families, 5 volunteers and a group of hard working Guatemalan men provided that this week for three wonderful families. Not only was a physical home provided, but friendships, although we are many miles from each other, will always be in the forefront of our memories. Once you have been here and participated in this beautiful project that Joe and Oscar have created, you never forget what a deep and enriching experience you have had...it is impossible. I cannot recommend this experience enough for anyone as an individual, a family or a group. It will change your life forever and more importantly, change your perspective on what is important in life. As human beings we should be aware of the world around us, not only our backyard, but globally.  We take one last picture before we board the trucks to leave this majestic mountain, and these people that have touched our hearts forever. I have spent this week building these 3 homes with incredible people. We have laughed together, cried together, and have experienced something that most people never do. I am so grateful for the time I have spent with The Dickerson and Nelson families, and the other volunteers. We had two young men working with us, Nick and Zack, they worked hard and I am sure that they have been touched by this.   Between them they have 5 lovely daughters. Taylor, Morgan, Carly Julia, and Carolyn are 5 inspiring young ladies. These are young ladies with grace and sensitivity that will leave their mark on the world. It has been my pleasure to share this experience with such wonderful and caring families.  This is the 6th house I have built with my family. It was great to have Britt with us this time. She is and has always been a very hard worker, and it is a blessing to share this experience with her again. I drive them crazy most of the time, but sharing this with them is the most enriching activity we do together as a family.

Dios bendiga a la gente hermosa de Santa María de Jesús y De Casas a Hogares.

God bless the beautiful people of Santa Maria de Jesus and From Houses to Homes-Guatemala.

Last pic of the group before we leave the mountain.