Today we completed our week of work just after noon, with a break for lunch and a farewell ceremony with the Acosta family. For our final hours we filled the interior foundation of the house with the dirt we had previously excavated from the foundation trenches and the latrine pits. Three of us completed the latrine pit by laying the brickwork and applying a final layer of cement inside. One glitch: the power was out so we had to mix our cement by hand.
While we worked on moving dirt and completing the latrine, the masons continued laying bricks for the house. Their speed and attention to detail was something to watch.
As a little momento to the family we left little messages of good wishes on the bricks around the house. Nilsa (the homeowner) was very touched by this. While the messages would be hidden away in the masonry she would always know they’re there.
Our artistic work got the better of us that we even decorated the latrine pit cover.
And finally out little closing ceremony. We could only accomplish so much in our week so the privilege of completing the house and presenting the key to the family will fall to another team. Nonetheless we still exchanged speeches and little gifts to mark the occasion.
We are now on our way to Iguazu Falls for a little RnR.
sedativegunk 