Building on Relationships
by Jodi Davis on
Sunday, 25 October 2015 -

Beti (co-op member) and Jodi

The Habitat translators help tremendously with many, many things.  They keep us safe.  Keep us fed. They keep us on schedule, and they keep us on task on the work site.  These amazing people become your lifelong friends and I came to realize this early on in the trip.  Jim, Dean, Pam and Luke had strong bonds already with many of the Habitat people in El Salvador, thanks to their previous trips here. By midweek, I knew that we all were feeling the friendship bonds with our fantastic translators. Words can not express these amazing, educated, loving, kind, spirited people that work for Habitat. What a privilege to know them and work with them! Thank you Karlita and Francis!!

 The entrance to the co-op in the Getsemani Community; it is built like a Habitat house.

However, what I didn't realize in the beginning of the week, was that we would have an opportunity to make relationships with the people in the neighborhood that our Habitat house was being constructed.  The rain that we have had this week resulted in a change to our work schedule. We were not able to go to the job site at all on Monday. Wednesday we were only able to work half of the day. This was a disappointment because we came here to help build a house.  But, the time off from working gave us an opportunity to spend time with the ladies from a co-op that was formed in Getsemani (the neighborhood in Ahauchuapan where our Habitat house is being built).  The ladies that are members of the co-op are Habitat home owners. Their co-op is actually housed in a Habitat house. They cook, sew, make jewelry, etc. We purchased jewelry from them and they told us about the beads they used (many are local seeds that they gather). These ladies showed us tremendous hospitality throughout the entire week!  They took turns making lunch for us, brought it to the worksite and served it to us. Some of their children stopped by the worksite in between school sessions. This gave us a chance to really get to know them!  Our translators helped facilitate conversations with the ladies. We were able to ask detailed questions about their interests and family lives.  We shared our own stories and pictures from our cell phones. We embraced at every encounter and farewell!

Francis, Karla, and Beti get lunch ready for us a the work site.

One afternoon, immediately after lunch, a rainstorm hit while the ladies were still there serving us lunch. Some of our group, a lady from the co-op and her children took shelter from the rain under the porch at the neighboring house. This really gave them a chance to get to know each other!!  Without a translator, they relied on their own limited Spanish speaking skills to communicate.  (And mainly it was our youth, Luke and Joe, communicating with the children of the co-op ladies). Before we knew it, we heard laughter and saw the smiles that resulted from this time together.  These experiences built as the week went on.  Kicking around the soccer ball, sharing ice cream and celebrating with a piñata were highlights for the children at our farewell lunch which was held at the co-op.  (Little Melvin who Tim and Luke and Joe got to know at the job site even came to our farewell party!!) Goofing around and sharing good laughs definitely broke through our communication barrier, on and off the job!

It would have been difficult to go through the week without seeing the generosity, compassion and love the people of El Salvador have towards others.  We witnessed this firsthand from our partners in Habitat, friends at Cristo Rey Church and friends in Getsemani.  We could also see it in strangers on the street!  It is a gift.  Being on the receiving end of these gifts was something that caught me off guard.  I look forward to keeping in touch with the ladies from the co-op.  I learned so much from them about life: working together, supporting one another, appreciating what you have, working hard to reach your goals, giving of yourself, being welcoming to outsiders, etc.  I feel very honored to have been part of this team and to be associated with Habitat for Humanity El Salvador.  Habitat for Humanity builds homes for people worldwide that live in sub-standard housing.  We support their mission financially and through hard work when we go on these trips. Relationship building is essential for our partnership with Habitat El Salvador to grow, but it is obvious that God is working through the people of El Salvador in amazing ways to help this relationship continue to grow.  Habitat allows us to work alongside the family, and the entire community. That is what made this trip so amazing to me!  I invite anyone who is willing and able to come on a Habitat El Salvador trip.   I know I will be back!!

Goodbye and many thanks to Beti, Juana and all of the ladies from the co-op!!!  Goodbye, but only for now ...