The Long Long Long way home!!

It is strange how eleven days can change the meaning of such a simple phrase. Webster's dictionary defines "home" as :

1. one's place of residence : domicile b: house

2. : the social unit formed by a family living together

3. a: a familiar or usual setting : congenial environment; also: the focus of one's domestic attention

Eleven days ago twenty-four people set out, leaving the comforts of "home" to embark on a journey to Nicaragua.  As the team arrived in Managua Nicaragua, the members had the opportunity ti come together as a team while putting aside their anxieties.

The team was quickly reminded of where we had landed, as well as what we had all left behind in order to take part in such a great cause.  Less than twenty-four hours after leaving behind all those daily compliants of hardships upon which we tend to focus on in our lives back home in Canada..

...How bad we have it having to wake up early to go to work, Having to put up with the internet being down, the lad at Starbucks taking too long to make our five dollar coffee or finding that the three bedroom - two and a half bath house is too cramped......

Visiting the "homes" of the families that we were about to spend the week attempting to help build a new home for was a great way to quickly regain one's perspective in life.

Being invited into the homes of these two amazing families was such an un-expected experience and a harsh reminder of what a "home" really is.

Imagine having the resilience to wake up every morning, starting your day in a twenty square meter room with clothe walls seperating your space into rooms for your family of five?

Waking every day to a dirt floor, communal latrine shared with your neighbours and doing it with a smile on your face!

Now that we have spent eleven days in Nicaragua, the journey "home" has begun with a new meaning of what a home is. 

It is amazing  what a little perspective can do to a person.  Our issues at home can now be viewed from a diffrent light tanks to our recent experiences, kicking the "whoa is me" square in the teeth.

When things get rough at home we will be fortunate enough to be able to look back at our time in Nicaragua as a reminder of what a "home" truly can be.

Tony and I would like to thank the team for the amazing effort, spirit and teamwork that was putforth all week, it trully makles our responsibilities much lighter.

Hats off to our Habitat hosts Vittoria, Alisa, Scarleth, Nelson and Adrian for a very well organized trip

and a special thanks to Mike, Sheila and the crew at AutoTrim for their ongoing support, The team poseters were a huge hit..

'Till Next Year...

Paulie