The Build – Day Seven

I wake up but I don’t get up.  At least not easily.  My back is sore as sin.  Downstairs our team leader gives me and extra strength Ibuprofen that miraculously transforms me.  Rather than moving like I’m eighty I now move more like I’m sixty.  I’m good enough to go and work.  I go back into the mud pit, since shoveling and mud transport would wreck my back.  The others are doing the floors now.  The house is almost done.  Once I’m out of the pit it’s picture time.  The kids see me, feet muddied up and start running.  I chase them around a bit they run off and hide.  Later they come back and we do it again.  I decide to hide myself this time, and sneak up from behind as they look for.  Squeals of delight as they take off when I get close.  Playtime’s over and it’s time for me to wash the mud off.  The house is finished now.

We head back to the hotel to get cleaned up for the dedication ceremony.  When we arrive back at site after lunch the house is decorated and chair are arranged.  The dedication starts with a dance by the oldest child in the family.  He’s quite young but already he’s better at dancing than I’ll ever be.  After a few words they cut the ribbon.  We’re all given a certificate of appreciation and a couple of little tokens of appreciation, hat’s and plaques, from the co-coordinators on the Nepali side.  The kids have some new toys today, some little soccer balls and a few frisbees.  We finish our time playing catch, kicking the soccer balls around and saying good-bye to the people we met over the last week.  It’s been wonderful.