Build a house in the Garbage Dump.
Day 2 — Monday, Jan. 28, 2008 — Hi, ho. Off to work we go.


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Click on any photo for a larger image.
Building team

Our building team ready to go. L to R:
  Jack Huber,
  Jen Huber,
  Dave Ahl,
  Eric Keber,
  Greg Billing,
  Antonio Monasterio.
Off to work

We go to work in a relatively newly reclaimed area of the dump very close to Potter's House.
Family

We meet the family of six for whom we're building a house plus other members of their family and the community in the traditional opening ceremony.
Front yard

The alley in front of the house is just a very short distance from the active part of the garbage dump.
Mixing concrete

We start mixing the first of many, many batches of concrete. But ask yourself, what would a missions trip to Guatemala be without several tons of concrete mixed by hand? It just wouldn't be the same.
Mixing concrete

So that we would be able to finish the entire house, local laborers had already laid the first eight courses of concrete blocks.
Laying concrete block

After a quick lesson from the local mason, we start putting down the mortar and laying block ourselves.
Laying concrete block

Some caught on to the concrete block laying process more quickly than others, although eventually we all got the hang of it.
Laying concrete block

Mixing mortar

The never-ending process—lay some block, mix some mortar.
Mixing mortar

Even little Aury pitched in mixing the mortar.
Drilling holes in blocks

Holes had to be drilled in the concrete blocks to fit over the rebar uprights.
Laying concrete block

The Huber block-laying team takes over for a while.
Leveling block

Concrete blocks are leveled with a hammer (and level if you have one, otherwise eyeball).
Laying concrete block

Cutting and fitting of blocks is required in the corners and around the window and door.
Laying concrete block

At work on the back wall (three courses higher than the front to allow for a sloping roof).
Kids look at digital camera

Kids all wanted to see their pictures on our digital cameras.
Kids on scaffolding

After school, scores of kids arrived to watch us work.
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