Mexico House Build - Hot and DONE!
Kurt and Manon headed out bright and early on Thursday March 12th for the "Homes of Hope" project in Tijuana.Dan Doherty from Calgary West has been organizing these house builds for at least 10 years now and this year there were 5 teams of about 15 - 17 people each.
"We stayed at the Youth with A Mission (YWAM) campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was quite the stunning view and it was HOT!
On the first day we boarded our school bus (we were on the yellow team) and headed for our build site, about 1 hour away from the campus, in the very very hilly interior.
Our team was composed of several Rotarians from Calgary Fish Creek, Calgary West, the wife of a Rotarian from Calgary Chinook, 3 kids from Boys & Girls club and 1 Exchange student from Hungary.
Our master builder Mitch helped us organize in teams and after a short prayer, we started building. Kurt ended up master framer and taught the kids from a Calgary Boys & Girls club how to pound 3 inch nails. I was on the chop saw group, and we cut 55 2x4s to a length of 93. 3/4 inches. Then I pounded nails as well.
In the hot hot Mexican sun we worked tirelessly to get the walls all framed and laid out one on top of another. The painting group supplied us with the painted exterior walls. Holes were cut in those walls for 3 windows and a door.By about 2 pm our walls went up and then Kurt got busy as master electrician. I pulled wires.
The next day it was all about getting the shingles nailed to the roof and finishing the interior. I got to go shopping with the family. It was heartwarming to see them fill up their baskets and come back to their new house with lots and lots of groceries ($500 USD). By the way this represented 3 completely filled shopping carts.
We were building for Manuela Gloria (63 year old grandmother) and her family of 6, (Juan her son, Gloria her granddaughter who had 2 little girls and Daniel and Kevin, 2 grand kids)They currently live in a shack which Manuela Gloria has lived in for the last 20 years (she is one of the original squatters in this neighborhood)
At the final key handover ceremony, each one of us got to say something to the family and it was a emotional time as we shared out thoughts and feelings and wished them well. The family got a few minutes to walk into their newly finished house and explore the 3 rooms all set up for them. We were their first guests and they shared their immense gratitude with us.We hugged and waved goodbye and were on our way back to the campus at 5:00 pm. Yes it took us only 2 days to build a house for this family of 7 members.
What an adventure and what a difference for this family!
Manon & Kurt