The Roofs are on!!!

Hey folks, Katia was kind enough to send along some pictures of our homes now that they are closer to  being finished...Take a look!!

Great people do great things.

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" - Ralph Waldo Emerson                                                                                                               

After reading Paul's final thoughts on our trip I was inspired to add this quote to our blog.  It reconfirms my beliefs in a great co-leader and also a great group of people.  As has been noted we are a legendary team and that is because we have legendary people.

We can,  and do make a difference.  In addition to the build we have taken on projects to refurnish a kitchen, build a new community bridge and help fund the eco-latrines for a school of 200 children.   As always we establish a bond with the families we build for and with the local organizers as they thank us for allowing them to be part of our family for a week. Little do they know that we are the ones so grateful to be part of their family for one week a year.

Yes,  there is a lot of work to do and there will always be people in extreme need,  but remember we made a difference to these three families. Now while we are all back home to our regular routines we can truly say that we left a trail in Nicaragua for others to follow.

Tony

The home stretch....

 “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”—Malcolm S. Forbes.

If this is true, then the past 12 days have shown how 26 people can come together and leave their mark on society. Being defined by one's actions and not one's possessions allows one to gain an amazing perspective on their life.

The people of Nicaragua have opened their "HOMES" and community to welcome a group of strangers into their lives and become one.  This makes us wonder.....

Could you stand with your loved ones in front of a group of people who appear so completely different that you, and open up your life for all to view????

The resolve displayed by the three families we had the honour of working with was simply incredible. To live as a family in an area smaller than a single car garbage with plastic tarps, branches and metal pieced together to make up your walls and roof all while smiling and being thankful for what you have, is a testament to the strength of a person's will to survive.

Imagine being the head of the house and only being able to provide a dirt floor and torn plastic as your family's shelter?  

As the days past by, we were blessed to be able to watch the homeowners grow in strength and pride.  From the look of fear, apprehension and humility to beaming with pride as the walls began to grow and the concrete floor was being poured.

Tony and I would like to thank all our team members for a fantastic week.  The ability to provide a home to three families while resetting our own perspective is a tremendous gift....
After five such trips, I'm still not convinced that we don't come out as lucky and blessed as the families we help...

I think Kenny Chesney hit it on the head when he wrote these lyrics...

So damn easy to say that life's so hard

Everybody's got their share of battle scars

As for me, I'd like to thank my lucky stars

That I'm alive and well

It'd be easy to add up all the pain

And all the dreams you sat and watched go up in flames

Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain

But not me, I'm alive

And today you know that's good enough for me

Breathin' in and out's a blessing, can't you see?

Today's the first day of the rest of my life

Thanks again...See you in 2013...

Paulie