Un techo para mi país

This past weekend, I went to volunteer for a program called "Un techo para mi país," which literally means "A roof for my country." It's a program in Peru that works with volunteers and donations to build houses for people who lost their homes in several earthquakes that have occurred in the past few years. They work with people in very poor pueblos, many of which lost practically everything they had in the earthquakes, including posessions, their families, and their dignity. Building homes for these people means they can have a new place to live and reconstruct their dreams. They hope that it will give them more confidence that they can advance and that their children can be educated and get good jobs, etc.
So...as I'm sure you can imagine, I had SUCH an incredible experience, for so many reasons. First of all, I had to speak Spanish the entire weekend. I only spoke English a little bit with Aaron, who also went, at night and in the mornings. We worked on separate teams building separate houses. I got to hear all kinds of words and phrases, both relating to construction, and of "jerga" or slang in general that I don't hear at home. I met so many people who were so interested in me and where I come from. It was really good for me to be entirely immersed in this experience, no matter how intimdating it was.
I got to see up close and personal a different part of Peru, a different sort of life. The families we were constructing houses for fed us lunch and talked with us. I got to spend time with the children who lived in the area, who were so intrigued by what we were doing, but also getting quite in the way...haha. I, with only 4 other people, built a wooden house of 3 by 6 meters in only two long days. I slept on the ceramic floor of a school in a thin sleeping bag, but loved every part of it.
This has probably been one of the best experiences I've had thus far in Peru. I am exhausted and every part of my body hurts today, but I am ready for more. I am thinking about going back again this weekend to the same place where they're going to construct more houses. Aaron and I both really love doing this for so many reasons (Aaron wants to try to become a "jefe de cuadrilla," or the person who leads the construction of a particular house). I can't think of another more rewarding way to spend a lot of my weekends. I couldn't possibly explain how good it felt when we had finished and let the family cut the string of inauguration for their new home. It was so surreal to think, "Wow, I just built a house. These people are going to LIVE here." It was incredible.