Cid's Cambodia Build

Friday, Friday Friday!  Our team grew in size which made for a bit of a challenge finding space to work, but we managed.  The team was very motivated to finish this water tank before we quit at noon to attend all the site dedications and celebration.

 We knocked it out with quite the assembly line of brink layers and cement makers :)

 Noodles, took the opportunity to show off his "wax on/wax off" techniques.

We stopped to get a few pictures when the home owners son caught a rat that we was going to fry up and eat.  I think the puppies were also VERY interested in it!

We ate lunch and waited for the water tank to arrive.  We watched the boys play marbles - some games never go out of style:

The tank arrived and we were ready to set it and begin the rounds of dedications.  The other team arrived so we were all together.

It was time for the ribbon cutting - once we discovered what a lengthy process it would be with each person cutting a little we modified the procedure by having one representative cut part, then the home owner cut.

 

 

We then loaded up the vans and proceeded to the next 7 sites to repeat the process....

 

 

 

 

 
 The whole group then posed for a picture.

We also had a celebration.  All the families and locals showed up.  Many had put on their "Sunday Best" and had gotten cleaned up for the even. 

Barbara and Don brought bubbles and then Margaret took over and entertained the kids by blowing bubbles and letting them chase them :)

Here are a few other shots

 

It was then time for the village leader and the home owners to speak.  It always amazes me to hear that we made such an impact.  To us, we were just doing what we could with the time we had.  To these folks, it made a world of difference - having clean water or NOT having to walk out into a field in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom where there are snakes, scorpions and RATS....

 

 

This is the widow we built the latrine for.  She has two daughters and her mother living with her.  She makes about $50 a MONTH.  She said she never could have affored to have a latrine built - some days she doesn't even know how she is going to feed her family.  She really touched my heart.  I got to see her every day because our 2nd site was right by her "house".  She always greeted me with a smile.  She has a kind heart and gentle spirit!

Then the dancing started - that was an experience.  First, the Cambodians sang and we danced:

Then it was our turn.  We sang about the only thing we thought would translate in both word and dance - The Hokey Pokey :)

After the festivities, we returned to the hotel.  Not a bartender in site so I took over the duties.  Another perfect end to a perfect day :)

More to follow