Literal translation: One roof for my country.

This weekend was one of my favorites so far! This organization is kind of similar to Habitat for Humanity in the US but it goes a few steps further than Habitat does. There are three steps that they follow: 1. build emergency shelters, 2. implement programs to aid comunity development, 3. in the hopes that the final resut is a sustainable community/neighborhood. I really like this plan because it does more than just give houses to families (which is great thing to do) but it goes a few steps further and really tries to get to the root of the community’s problems whether they be related to education, recreaction for youth, health care, etc.

I helped with the first step: build emergency shelters. And when they say emergency shelters they really mean it. The frst day we dug 15 holes in the ground (probably 6-7 feet deep), put a log inside each one, and filled in the holes with the dirt we had taken out. The second day we nailed down pre-built floor boards, put up pre-built wall panels, and installed the rafters for the roof. The third day we put on the tin roof. The houses are probably smaller than your bedroom or your kitchen but for the 15 families that recieved houses this weekend they are new homes (not just houses) and are a dream come true. All of the houses where built in various barrios (neighborhoods) of Cordoba (mine was about 40 minutes from downtown) but I felt like I was hours and hours from Cordoba because the conditions where so different from those of the city. The barrio where I was was actually built on top of an old landfill. Everything was garbage. We dug holes 7 feet deep and it was just trash and a little dirt. The groud is covered in broken glass and the ground is so contaminated that the city refuses to put in water pipes so a truck comes once a week to fill huge water jugs that are on every street corner. This just broke my heart. I have been exposed to poverty before but this was a very extreme case. I am so glad Un Techo is at work in this place bringing hope and love because it is in desperate need of care and attention.

One woman (Virginia) will be living in the house I helped build but she has a daughter who also lives in Cordoba and is studying to be an architect. Virginia’s ex-husband also came to help build the house with us. The two of them get aong very well now and it was great to see them with their daughter working together to build this house that is so special for them. And necessary. The house where Virginia was living was not really a house at all…not even a shack really. You could see through the walls of the house and the piece of plywood that served as a roof hardly covered 1/3 of the house. She had to go to a neighbor’s house every time it rained. Now at least she has a roof that won’t leak. She was so very greatful for all that we did for her but she did a lot for us to. She showed us that you can be joyful in life even if you have absolutely nothing. She taught us that even when it is hot and windy and you just want to escape from it all you have to keep digging the hole that you are already waist deep in. We all leared that in three days you really can form a new family. Those who helped build our house: 11 college age kids, two site directors, three family members. On monday when we finished the house we had a welcome home celebration where Virginia cut a ribbon in front of the door and said a blessing over her new home. I don’t think there was one person there who was not crying…even the tough boys! We were crying for joy that Virginia had a new life but I know at least I was also crying because there where kids out in the street who didn’t have new houses and didn’t get the chance to start a new life. But there is still hope. Un Techo is not going to leave this community. It is going to work very hard to keep improving life for all the residents. I am so hopeful for this community and hope you will join me in praying for its continued growth and improvement.

I am still trying to figure out how I want to apply what I learned from this weekend to my daily life. For starters I am just constantly reminded of how lucky I am to live the life I do: I have a roof and a bed and food to eat, I have the oppportunity to go to school, I am here in another country meeting people and learning tons, I have a family and group of friends that love me very much and whom I love very much as well. And I thank God every day for all of this.