Day 5 - The Orphanage

"You may recall that yesterday, I never mentioned taking a shower. I should have included the fact that when we arrive back at the hotel shortly after 4 p.m., we all race to take showers – until we learn that the hot water is just a trickle. Part of that is everyone trying to shower at once, as we have a total of 20 people in the two groups. Of course, if you don't mind a cold shower, there is plenty of water for that! Almost no one showers in the morning, as there is little point. But, that afternoon shower is a great thing, and one of the most enjoyable moments of the day.

It is occurring to many of us that our trip is more than half over! We are busy and working hard, and the time is passing quickly. This morning at the work site we witnessed the effects of more overnight rain. Some of the high-quality fill material for the foundation that we put in place yesterday got too wet, and needed to be turned over and mixed with dryer fill material, and re-packed. The one mechanical device we have seen so far is a soil compactor. Al York even got to run it! Meanwhile, with certain sets of muscle groups being rather tired, I opted today for re-bar work partly for a change of pace, and partly to see what it was all about. A fine fellow named Wayne, age 81, from the other Illinois group, introduced me to tying triangles in place with wire onto to what will become three vertical rods for the corner columns of the church building. Say what you will about the manual construction methods, they accomplish an entirely professional product in the end. They mix all the concrete and mortar just on a flat, open space, without a mixer or even a wheelbarrow. All the wheelbarrows are in use hauling dirt or fill.

The re-bar work proved quite interesting. The triangles are made separately, then the vertical pieces are fastened into place. The triangles are first measured to length as straight sections, then cut with shears. The bending of the straight segment into a triangle is accomplished with a hand-held bending tool. The piece is put in a jig consisting of fat nails hammered into a flat board. Two important dimensions are marked with a pencil, and in four steps, you have a triangle – unless you goof. The more you do it, the better you get at it, and after a while, one is pretty good at it.

We had a visit from a Habitat official today, and he gathered us together in the church space to show us the architectural diagrams and some mock photos of the completed church. You could certainly see the layout of the church coming into shape. The mason contractors held the photos and diagrams, and the official thanked us for our efforts. He spoke in Spanish, and Karla (one of our Habitat hosts) translated, something she does with ease.

At 2 p.m., we stopped work to head back to the hotel, clean up, and visit the orphanage. We took our trickle showers, but did not have the other group to compete with. We packed up 4 full suitcases full of toys and goodies for the girls at the orphanage and left in the van about 3 p.m. We arrived in only a few minutes, and were greeted by staffers and one of the sisters, and gathered to get organized to meet the 47 girls. It became clear quickly that this was not only an orphanage, but also their school. The head sister decided they would like to go through the toys first and not give them to the girls today. The teachers might use them in classes, or some items might not be age appropriate. We left the 4 suitcases in an office. We stopped for a brief photo of our group taken by both Sophie and Frances (some of us call her Francine). Otherwise, photos were discouraged, and we think this is to keep the girls safe and private, off the Internet, etc. So, you won't see any photos of the girls.

After a brief tour, which included a sewing room, we met in a music classroom. This particular class of girls of mixed ages accompanied by their music teacher on a keyboard, energetically sang us several songs, none of which we recognized, and all of which Sophia told us were Christian songs. They really loved to sing! We walked about for a little while then re-grouped in what was likely the cafeteria, where ALL the girls joined their keyboard playing teacher for more songs – which they all knew by heart. Some of the younger ones slipped over to our side of the room and sat next to us, or even on our laps as the older girls sang and sang and sang. Next, we moved to the courtyard basketball court, and one can see that they need a new basketball. Teams were established, us versus them, and the girls all played barefoot while putting Good Shepherd's Team El Salvador to shame. The rest of us played games and tried to understand the things they were telling us before we had to depart. Leaving was hard as many of the girls, Guadalupe (“Lupe”), Sylvia, Blanco, Theresa, Daniella, Josie, Carolina, Andrea, and no doubt many more hung onto us and said good-bye over and over. We were delighted to meet them, but it's hard to learn that most do not get adopted out at all. They stay until they are 18, and they leave to work, and maybe some go to school. The girls thanked us, and some even gave an impromptu speech in Spanish translated by Sophie. They said they would long for us to return, and would keep us in their prayers."  

Dean Olson