DAY 4, American Thanksgiving:
We are so used to the rain at this point that it isn't even worth mentioning again, so we won't. Today was a fun day for everybody and was most definitely the family day. Today our teams got much closer with their build families, masons, helpers, and even the local children. All of the kids that seemed so shy before came out of the woodwork to come play with the teams and even to help them work!
Site 1, Team Tony (Santa Cruz):
The local children are finally letting Jill have her pictures
Lauren was keeping the kids in line while they fought for crayons and markers
The Santa Cruz team likes to dance
Mark taking Carlos for a ride
Brian appreciating the art
We really love dancing
Hilda and Lidia posing for the camera. Superstars
Jacqueline, the two year old that will be moving in
Sorry boys, no mas chicklets!
Site 2, Team Chris (Cobán):
The beautiful view from above
The neighbourhood children venturing in
Rita showing the children their pictures
Carolyn with the kids
Adriana practicing her Spanish with the children
Precious little girl
The team with the masons and Elizabeth (the mother of the household)
New recruits!
Jumping rope
Site 3, Team Paulie (Cobán):
Some of the team hanging out in the dirt
Working hard on the foundation with the masons
The ladies
Showing off just how muddy it can be
Habitat family on site 2 - Jose and Monica and nieces and nephew
Lisa rocking her Canadian "swag"
Making dirt look good
Ronnie getting into the dirty work
SOCCER:
Today was extra special since we not only got to work on site with our incredible families and Habitat teams, but also got to get together and play a few games of soccer. The families from two of the sites, some masons and helpers from all sites, and some of the team from the Habitat for Humanity office here in Cobán came out to play a couple games of soccer on mixed teams. It was a great opportunity to bond and hang out with our Guatemalan family, and to learn just how great Guatemalans are at soccer.
The Canadians
Danillo with a few Canadians (he travelled about an hour to be here!)
Action shot!
Canadians and Guatemalans playing together
QUOTES OF THE DAY:
"Shovelling cement and clay are hard work but we managed to do it. Thank God the neighbouring kids crept in!" - Rita
We asked the mason and his team what he thinks about the Canadians (they have never worked with a Canadian team) with lots of enthusiasm they responded.. " these Canadians are incredibly hard workers, very warm and they love to laugh!" We're at a very happy site. - Fernando, Anevan and Erwin
"Do you remember Shawn Michaels? ...Well watch this!" - Dave Gervais strutting across the room to cut the euchre deck
"What a beautiful community! Beautiful landscape, beautiful people." -Carolyn
"I can't think of a better group of Canadians to spend Thanksgiving with. Thanks for being so fun and kind and for being here!" - Melissa (Habitat for Humanity representative)
THANKSGIVING
We would like to also take some time to thank our Habitat guides, David, Melissa, and Lila for being so incredible through this trip. They are here in Guatemala, helping us around and translating for us, and just generally being so kind and helpful while their families are in the United States celebrating the holiday without them. We are extremely grateful for everything that they have given us, so this Thanksgiving, we would like to give thanks to them.
