Fantastic Friday!

We were blessed again with a beautiful day for working on the jobsite. Sunny skies and eager workers!

At the end of the day yesterday, we had mixed and poured 8 batches of concrete. So, Damian started the day by ordering more supplies to keep up with our incredible workers. Our cohesive team has worked well together from the beginning and was looking forward to another great day on the job.

By mid-morning, reporters from the local television station arrived to ask the same question that the newspaper journalist asked a few days ago: "Why do you come to volunteer in Poland?" To his surprise, Chuck was asked to make a statement for the local TV station to answer that question. His response is always the same: "Our purpose for coming here is to work with local Habitat partner families in constructing decent, affordable, safe homes for them. The joy comes from the interaction with them in spite of cultural differences, language barriers and different construction methods. The smiling faces, jokes, laughter, and hugs signal to us that it's worth all the time and effort and whatever it costs to come here. We are the hands and feet of Jesus."

Mid-day, the preparation for feeding our group of 25+ begins. Terri takes some drafted volunteers to visit the local meat market, bakery, paper supplies store, grocery store, and fruit & vegetable stands to purchase the ingredients for our picnic-style lunch. This approach is not only less expensive, but it also provides a freshly prepared meal. The cultural experience of observing the local families as they purchase what they need for the current day, a common practice, is unique for us. When all the food arrives, the drafted volunteers prepare the lunch which is quickly consumed by the crew. The new "Habi-Diet" is popular and has served us well. In fact, some are already concerned about how they're going to switch back to their normal eating routines when they get home. Most of the crew heads back to work, and the drafted lunch volunteers clean up and make sure any remaining food is available for the crew & working family members for an afternoon snack.


Team Observations:

Quotes from Supervisor Sam: Day 3 "You are lucky!" Day 4 "Very goot!" Day 5 "Perfect! Yahoo!"

Katherine recalls the food she's eaten in Poland: Poppy seed rolls,

Fruits & Vegetables Stand

cream puffs, puczki, cookies, ice cream, ptysie, black olives, pierogies, chocolate-filled croissants, hot Belgium chocolate cheese cake.

And Michal's response was: "Like Garfield said, 'Calories are meant to be consumed, not counted!'"

Katherine: "Until we have a calorie test!"

Damian: "Steve is a ceement spezcialist! He is number one!"

Damian talked animatedly on his cell phone when he realized that we had used up all but a few bags of concrete mix and the sand pile was almost gone. His reaction, to no one in particular. was, "Oh mein Gott!" We assumed that meant he was pleased with our progress!

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Part of trip: 2009 TBW Team, Poland

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