Gave my laptop away a while back, hence no Peter blogs lately. One or two of my avid readers expressed some more, so here we go-
     I have completed two of my three mission trips for the year already . In January, I was graciously sponsored by Larry and Cheryl Winger for a trip to El Salvador with the Fuller Center. Twelve of us were in the group. Many had been together on the last two builds to Guatemala and Zambia. Steve Longo and Mr. Bill both from California. Kay Donaldson from Indiana. The Wingers (who celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary on the trip). Marilyn Emmert was our group leader. Barry and Gerry, a married couple from Connecticut. Felix from Mehico. 
     The site was just outside the capital. We rode the twenty minute ride in all together in a minibus, with a police escort. Turns out that El Salvador has gained the title "murder capital of the world". We never sensed any danger while we were there, though, particularly with our friends in blue with their sawed off shotguns strapped to their shoulders. We found the donut shop on the way and bought a bunch to be shared by all a few mornings.
     The projects was a joint venture with the Fuller Center and a local organization called People helping People . On our first day there, we took a tour of the future homeowners existing homes outside the city. One was particularily depressing in that it was on a hill and everytime it rained, it flooded the dirt floor of the home. No electric or plumbing and the roof was just black plastic draped over tree branches with rocks holding it down.
     There was a local mason hired to lead the construction with his crew of 4 or 5. The whole project would be 72 new simple, decent homes built on a site donated by the county. We hand dug the foundations for the first 5 homes and then hand mixed (in piles on the ground with shovels and our backs) the concrete for the foundations. Chellie (the head guy) was great to work with us and after a bit, we floated the idea that we should rent a cement mixer for us to use. He was agreeable to the idea and we got a good deal on the rental fee by doing "the ask" (If you don't ask, you won't get it- Millard Fuller 101)
     The locals had the land cleared and batter boards set with strings strung where the perimeter of the new homes would be. Lots of digging. Fortunately, not many rocks and no clay, mostly just topsoil.  We did have one large root ball of a tree that had to come down to remove that took some energy to remove.
     Weather was beautiful, with a nice breeze everyday and no rain while we were there for ten days. Most of the group was familiar with construction techniques- they were similar to Guatemala and Zambia. Mixing concrete, cutting and bending re-bar and laying block.
     We brought the five houses up to about 4 feet high, with some of the party walls going all the way up.
     We stayed at a hotel that was built for the Pan Am games a few years back and shared the facility with table tennis teams from all around Central America, as well as boxing contenders. One night after work, some of us attended the boxing match.
     Had breakfast and dinner at the hotel and lunch was served on site everyday.
     The local mayor come out twice while we were there. Once for the photo op. The workers had dug a hole in the middle of one of the houses and set up little batter boards and re bar in and around it and the next day, there was a shovelful of concrete thrown in the hole. this happened on one morning we weren't there. She returned later in the week to thank us for coming to help.
   Had a day and a half of R and R. Sunset and swimming at the Pacific ocean and an awesome zoo/zip line course with 14 lines strung along the mountains. A small goat path to get to the top and then the lines zigzagged back and forth in front of waterfalls and beautiful mountain scenery.
    At the end of the trip, we all chipped in $200 and bought Chellie his own mixer to finish building the 72 homes after we left.  Mr. Bill also presented him with our patented concrete bag spliterator. (Spell check didn't like that word for some reason. . .) It was a piece of 1/2" re bar bent in a u shape. you put it on the ground, put the bag on it, and then pull up on the handles and voila, the bag stands up and is split in two. He was pleased.
     Great trip was had by all.

 Next time I will tell you about West Virginia with Craig Snow. Also have to figure out how to get pictures from the library's computer to here. Lets see.