Pacific Sunset
Saturday, 24 Oct 2015; Dean and Jim

Jim Hack and I are on the beach watching the sun set over the Pacific.  We have a poor Internet connection here at our beachside hotel not too far from the airport.  So, a photo is not likely, at least not today.  Jodi Davis and Luke Smith have just come down to the water as well.

Habitat has a rest day built in to the end of the work event.  It gives us a chance to ponder and reflect, and it's a good and welcome thing before the trek back.  We catch a van to the airport for about a 25 min ride tomorrow morning at 10.  Our flight leaves at 1 p.m.

Thursday, October 22

We worked till about 2:30 p.m. on chispa (the loose concrete that goes inside the blocks), plus sanding the finished block surfaces with a small piece of concrete block. This takes out the imperfections in the surface and makes it ready for finishing and painting.  Karla and I spent hours sifting sand into a finer sand for a skim coat used in the bathroom walls.  We finally filled an entire bucket with it.  The masons said they need 2 more.

Later that day we went to some natural hot springs and swam in the warm pools.  There was a mud party, but the photos will have to wait.

Friday, October 23

We worked till noon on mostly what we worked on the day before.  But, at noon, we took a significant hike to the women's co-op (started with Habitat's help), and they fixed us lunch!  We had chicken and vegetable kebobs with rice, and ice cream for dessert!  They are so nice to us.  Jim presented the ladies with a sizable donation, and they were just thrilled.  They will likely use it for micro-loans, and anything they need to do more.  Francis found a pinata at a Dollar Store (or equivalent), and Luke hung it from a tree branch and operated the rope.  We blindfolded most, but not all, of the kids, and let many of the take a swing.  They had a great time and once it broke, it spilled its candy and the kids scrambled after it.  The Mickey Mouse pinata made of newspaper was broken open by a little boy named Melvin.  Since he was blindfolded for a moment, he missed getting some candy, and got just 1 piece.  He immediately walked over and gave it to his little brother.  Francis saw that and gave him some candy she had on reserve.  Melvin is quite a fine little guy.

At the hotel that night, the hotel staff had prepared a candlelit dinner of pupusas!  It was a very nice.

Back to Saturday, October 24

Luke is off to catch a crab that is probably smarter at being an uncatchable crab than Luke is at catching crabs on the beach.  So far, no luck for Luke.

Tomorrow's a travel day.  Bye for now.