First Update!

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Hello All!

I apologize for leaving my first blog so late. We arent left with much time after work and its hard to find a computer to do this.

But anyway, we are four days into the build and I have gone through a pair of shoes, sunnies, gloves and an entire bottle of sunscreen. But in that time we have met a handful of the home partners and made good friends with them. they all currently live on the edge of a river which is prone to flooding so the city has offered them these houses, which they are to repay back to habitat, or they can leave the city all together with an incentive from the government. I have posted some of the photos of their current residence and a picture of the girls who are helping us. basically all of the 416 families set to move in have to pay a sweat equity of 1000 hours on the site helping out. Which is great for us because we get to know a few of them personally.

Our team is made up of 8 people. 4 americans, one swiss girl, one south african and one french man. There is a photo of the team attached. they are all a good bunch, but the i haven't been agreeing with the places that the americans are chosing to eat. one night we even ate in a food court!

and lastly the work we have been doing. Basically we have to fill the walls on the first floor with concrete. Combined with the lack of equipment means we spend our days mixing concrete on the ground with shovels and carting everything around in buckets. Our other job is sifting through an endless mound of sand, clearing out the rocks so the can use the sand for render. So there is some photos of the job and us working hard as well.
There are also some photos of yesterday afternoon were the home partners brought their families around and we gave the kids toys that we bought the night before.

Well thats about it for now. I am sure i have left out a lot but I will try to update it again soon.
Missing you all
Mitch

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Comments

[Mum]

No wonder you are so exhausted
Great read. Its good to see the photos and the rest of the team. WOW those buckets are pretty small. They wouldnt carry much cement, but I guess you wouldn't be able to lift them if they were any bigger. I didn't realize the project would accommodate so many people. Awesome job. I hope you have a great weekend off and do lots and lots of sightseeing, oh yeah, I guess you will need to rest up a bit too. Enjoy! Love Mum.

[Chris Fletcher]

G'day
Looks like hot and heavy work, but very rewarding. Great to meet the people you are helping. I thought you'd be whipping up some spring rolls for everyone since you're an expert now. Hope you get to see a bit of the country while you're there. Keep up the good work and we expect to see a very buff bod when you get back. Chris and Ian

[lesley]

Howdy
Hi Mitch Looks like you're getting right into it all and working very hard. Have you had any chance, or do you get a chance, to have a look around Manila while you're there? Are all the people on your team friendly and do you feel 'at home;' with them. I hope so. How are your hands holding out? I can't wait to see yo when you get home and hear all about your adventures. Take care. Love you heaps and missing you too. Lesley

[Fozzie]

Hello! Yes we do get a chance to see the city. We have the weekends off so tomorrow we are taking a trip out into the mountains and we are trying to find a beach for Sunday. The group all get on really well, because it's only a small team we got to know each other pretty quickly, I'm glad that it's small and more diverse in culture Talk to you soon!

[Michael Manampiring]

Great work mate
Looks awesome mate. Keep up the good work. Oh and what have u got against food courts??? haha.

[Jordan]

..
so proud of you brother. you're amazing. love you.