We All Shine On: Day 5 in Sri Lanka

We awoke to a steady rain that had us worried about the prospect of work. After the success we had on Tuesday, I hated the idea of being stymied by the weather just as we’re about to start a three-day stretch at our sites. We passed an hour playing cards and laughing at Mr. Provencher’s music selections before our local coordinator, Francis, looked at the sky and said definitively, “Let’s do it.”

And the clouds parted in response. The rain turned to drizzle which eventually gave way to sunshine and soon the groups were back in rhythm. Mr. Provencher’s group finished quickly and blended with the others, leaving us with two work sites:

1) Heinrich & the Demolition Boys. At the main site, the team has been charged with knocking down an existing wall, removing the home’s roof, raising the floor level, building a new wall, and replacing the roof. Elsewhere this same group carved out two enormous holes so that the homeowner could add support columns for a second story. Long story short: these guys (and Clarissa) get to destroy stuff. And, predictably, they’re loving it.

2) Diggin’ with Dan. After the Group That Moved a Thousand Bricks stashed away yet another load first thing this morning, we got to the business digging the trench that will house the foundation for two new rooms. Currently a family of four is living in a space smaller than my living room. For the better part of five hours today, we whacked away at the Earth. I’ve been delighted to discover what an absolute beast Ekhart is when given an outdoor project. His hard work has set the example for the whole group.

As we wrapped up our work for the day the rain returned. It was pouring as we arrived at our guesthouse, and we thought it best to not let this opportunity go to waste. A relay race was in order! We divided into our two work sites and made dashes across the flooded strips of grass on the driveway, ending in a sliding free-for-all (above, Bryan sets the distance record). Losers (who shall remain nameless) are buying everyone’s ginger beers tonight.

What a great day.