I saw many hearts yesterday on my way to (and at) the Women's Build. Didn't take shots of all. One was a splotch of paint on the sidewalk as I waited for the Habitat van at Morvant junction.*
Yesterday, along with various other women, most of whom I was meeting for the first time, I took part in Habitat for Humanity's Women Build. Our mission was to lay the foundation for the house being built for Lorna and her family.
Our day consisted largely of mixing concrete, shoveling it into buckets and forming a bucket brigade to pass the concrete along to those women who were laying the foundation. After this experience I (we) have utmost respect for construction workers. Already, I am seeing large houses and buildings with different eyes - knowing the amount of hard work that went into them.
Have you ever tried to lift a bag of concrete? Even lifting one with Katie, one of the other women, I was struggling under the weight. Yet those men hoist concrete bags with such ease onto their shoulders.
Perhaps some of you have already mixed large batches of concrete. Even that is not easy, but it's interesting, we had fun and it was great exercise. We commented on the fact that we were lucky to have an overcast day and couldn't imagine how construction workers toil all day in the blazing sun. All the more respect for them.
As one of the women said, it's good to walk in someone else's shoes every now and then. Indeed, it expands our view of life and the world we live in.
In all, the experience was great. I will definitely go back. It's also interesting to see who the other women are and to meet them. Some women were from AFETT, two were from California (now living here with their families), two were friends of mine, two were young girls with their mother (they entertained us by singing as we passed buckets of concrete along), one was from YWCA and the rest were from Habitat.
If you would like to volunteer, please call Karlene at 782-4663. Bring some friends, have a different kind of fun, learn something and help to build a new home for a family in need of it.
Our day consisted largely of mixing concrete, shoveling it into buckets and forming a bucket brigade to pass the concrete along to those women who were laying the foundation. After this experience I (we) have utmost respect for construction workers. Already, I am seeing large houses and buildings with different eyes - knowing the amount of hard work that went into them.
Have you ever tried to lift a bag of concrete? Even lifting one with Katie, one of the other women, I was struggling under the weight. Yet those men hoist concrete bags with such ease onto their shoulders.
Perhaps some of you have already mixed large batches of concrete. Even that is not easy, but it's interesting, we had fun and it was great exercise. We commented on the fact that we were lucky to have an overcast day and couldn't imagine how construction workers toil all day in the blazing sun. All the more respect for them.
As one of the women said, it's good to walk in someone else's shoes every now and then. Indeed, it expands our view of life and the world we live in.
In all, the experience was great. I will definitely go back. It's also interesting to see who the other women are and to meet them. Some women were from AFETT, two were from California (now living here with their families), two were friends of mine, two were young girls with their mother (they entertained us by singing as we passed buckets of concrete along), one was from YWCA and the rest were from Habitat.
If you would like to volunteer, please call Karlene at 782-4663. Bring some friends, have a different kind of fun, learn something and help to build a new home for a family in need of it.
This frothy heart formed a while after water was poured into the 'bowl' formed by the sand and concrete (before mixing). 
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2 comments:
A worthwhile contribution. I was not aware that there was a habitat for humanity group operating here. Thanks for the information
Elspeth ... you never cease tuh WOW me ... with your photos ... and your projects ...
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