Hello! We finally started the stove project (constructing the actual stoves) and the last week has flown by! In the past 4 days we were able to construct 7 of the 40 stoves. Not to say the work is easy—we wake up at 6am to start construction in the distant community of La Jagua and construct all day until we finish at 6pm. Then, back to my house to eat dinner and construct chimneys (which we need to make in advance). Then, we start the cycle over the next morning at 6am. The work is grueling and I have more cuts on my fingers and toes from the zinc sheets and cement blocks we use! But, I can proudly say I have acquired basic masonry skills and know how to use a hacksaw, pickaxe and can work with cement. My masons are awesome (Rafelito and his brother-in-law, Gilberto) and they are hardworkers who don’t stop until the stoves are perfect. They have learned a lot in the past week as well and are gaining valuable construction skills they can use after the project.

What do my masons make in 1 day working 11 hours? Only 15 dollars. Yes, it may seem like a paltry sum but the going rate for day laborers is only about $7.50/day here. So the pay is semi-reasonable (although I wish I could pay them more!).

The stove project has been consuming all my time but I am off to the capital tomorrow for some meetings and some needed R&R. I also recently decorated the cement walkway we made outside my house, plastering small pieces of ceramic tile on the edges. It’s cute.


I am eagerly awaiting March for the ASB group and my parent’s visit!