Build day started out humid and cloudy, with all the families up early and off to the YWAM base for a 7am breakfast.  It was an exciting moment, after so much work done in New Zealand finally the work was about to start for real.  We loaded up the van and off we went out to the colonia where our families live and work.  We were still thinking, what will it be like? what will we say? will we be able to connect with these people?

We arrived to see that the old shack had been demolished and a beautiful concrete pad waiting for us.  It was a neat moment to actually meet these people who we had only seen in pictures up until now. We discovered Gabi, (the 63rd old lady of the house) was unable to walk without extreme difficulty. Her husband Guadalupe, or Diego, as he likes to be called, greeted us with a smile and seemed to be eager to be involved. Margarita, their daughter, has been living with her parents along with her husband and daughter for many years. Next week we will be building her a house.  Margarita was a wonderful help and our limited Spanish and her limited English didn’t stop us charging ahead and getting lots of work done.

It was hot, it was very hot, it was extremely hot! Our saying for the day was “the families that sweat together, stick together” and boy did we sweat! It was so cool to watch our children not only work, but work hard, and remain cheerful despite the heat, work and the unfamiliar environment.  Local kids gathered around and our own children were welcoming, playful and so willing to connect irrespective of cultural boundaries.  George and Tommy had a great game of football and proved that New Zealand kids can hold their own against the Mexican kids!  Handball was super popular also and provided alot of laughs amongst the kids.

By the end of the day metal frames were up, exterior cladding painted in aqua marine and 70% installed, window and door frames painted and ready to go in tomorrow.

We feel grateful, happy and tired. Bring on Day 2 tomorrow!