Arriving in Puerto El Morro and starting Construction

We arrived in Puerto El Morro on March 11th 2010.  We dropped off our backpacks at the small hotel where we will call home for 2 weeks and then we were off to Puerto El Morro to buy supplies.  After stopping at the bank, 3 construction stores and 3 hours later we were back in Puerto El Morro along with all of our newly purchased construction supplies.  We arrived at the top of a hill where we were greeted by Crucita, her kids and other family members and friends.  It was a warm welcome and everyone seemed delighted for the new project to help Crucita and her family.  I couldn´t help but notice as I was reunited by all of Crucitas kids how her little baby looked.  He is very malnutritioned and the worse case I have seen since working in Ecuador.  His little arms are the size of 2 of my fingers put together and his head is so much bigger than his body that he has a hard time balancing it.  I was immediately worried by the situation and had a hard time sleeping the first night.  Stef and I talked about it quite a bit and we knew we needed to do something.

Friday 3-12-10  We started construction on the house for Crucita.  We hired Freddi a well known construction worker in the area and he hired another 4 guys.  We pay the experienced guys $10 a day and the labor workers $5.  Stef and I were busy running into town and getting extra tools for the jobsite.  We had a slightly funny communication error early in the day when the guys asked us to go get saw blades.  We thought they were talking about material that would cost $70.00 when they were talking about saw blades that were going to cost .70 cents. Stef and I threw around some attitude on the job site before we figured it out and then it became quite funny.  So off we went to buy saw blades only to get back into the small town and realize they also needed shovels. Ahhhh! So off we went again to go buy shovels.  We are of the opinion that the more supplies there are the least amount of excuses there can be on the jobsite not to be working.  After purchasing the shovels Stef heaved the new shovels over her shoulders and away we went to try to find a fast taxi back to Puerto El Morro.  You have to realize that traveling on a bus back and forth can take up to an hour out of your day.  The taxi`s here aren´t marked and there are usually many cars and trucks that honk when headed back to Puerto El Morro. 

Right past us flew a red truck honking its horn and so I immediatley waved him down.  He stopped and we ran over to ask about the ride.  Well, let me rephrase.  I went to ask him about the ride while Stef just hauled the shovels into the truck bed and jumped right in.  Stef asked if he could take us to Puerto El Morro and he hesitantly said yes.  I asked him if he is a taxi going to Puerto El Morro and he said no.  He was just a regular guy honking because he thought we were cute. hahaha!  Stef was all comfortable in the back of the truck so she wasn´t too happy that we would have to find another ride.  I laughed about it forever!  We quickly found some friends of mine going back to Puerto El Morro and we jumped in for a ride.

After nearly having heat stroke from working out doors Crucita insisted that we come in to her friends house where she made us a meal at the end of the day.  In this culture when someone gives you a big plate of food it is a huge compliment. She had a huge plate of rice for each of us, a side of crab salad, and coconut juice.  We managed to eat half of it and then hopefully they gave the rest of the food to the kids standing around.  They were all watching us eat and so excited that we were there.  It was so sweet and thoughtful!  When we were in town earlier we had brought all the kids cookies and baby food and milk for the malnutritioned baby.  Crucita was very grateful and I know she does for us what she can with the little that she has.  I love working for someone who is so cheerful and willing to work.  She has been out there with Stef and I working like a guy.  She actually works better than some of the guys we hired.  She insists on being out there and will not hand over her shovel.  She is awesome and I have a lot of respect for her the more I am around her.  I know life hasn´t been easy for her but she seems to make the best of it.

Today was a great second day of work.  We have dug out all 9 holes and are pouring concrete today.  I am thrilled with our progress so far and I hope it continues going this quickly.  Even though Sunday is a day of rest in this culture and family day we are all going to be working.  I have promised if we make good progress this week that they can have next Sunday off.  I want to see Crucita and her family in their new house as soon as possible.

  Everything is going great and we will keep you updated as much as it is possible.  Stef was smart enough to invest in a can of Gold Raid bug spray so we have been living pretty well.  I can´t say great things about my mosquito spray though but the Raid has eased any sign of an early heartattack for me personally so thanks my dear friend.

I feel that I am speaking for Stef and I both when I say that we are so happy to be here.  Thanks for everyone who was able to donate to this project.