At seven thirty on a Saturday morning, I jump out of bed, ready to build a house.  We arrived to one of the townships of Cape Town at the Habitat for Humanity build site, after almost hitting many people and other cars in our mini bus.  The minute we got there, we were instructed to pick up shovels, and shovel things in 36 piles in wheelbarrows, no other real instructions.  After thirty six piles of sand, our masculine, scary leader told us that we put the piles in the wrong place so we started over again, and moved them all.  12 wheelbarrows full of cement and 36 wheelbarrows full of rocks, and some water, and cement was made.  By the afternoon, the beginning of a house was finished. 

            The team we were working with was from all over the world, with a volunteer service group that travels and volunteers. Our team also consisted of the man who is going to live in the house next week when it is finished, an 8 month-old pregnant woman, Emily (who shovelled lots of heavy sand…not the best idea?), and her daughter, as well as many many children who lived in the township and tried so hard to lift the shovels, with their tiny arms, they were quite determined.  The rest of the township also helped make the house, by driving by our worksite saying “I love you, you guys are great,” making us tea and lunch, and teaching us Xhosa and Afrikaans. 

            It is wild to think that with a group of ten people with some muscle power, some sand, some stones, cement and water; a house can be born.  It is not something that one might think can happen on a daily basis, but it does, and it was such a pleasure to be a part of.