Building with Love
It was hot. It was hard work. But it was also one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever been a part of.
Our team arrived at the building site on a sunny hilltop, where we were helping construct a home for a local family. Before we could begin, part of a wall on their existing structure had to be taken down. We kicked off the morning with a devotional, reminding us why we were there: to serve, love, and build in more ways than one.
Then we got to work.
We moved supplies off the site where the concrete foundation would be poured. After dividing into teams, some of us began cutting wood for the walls while others started building the concrete frame. We quickly realized we had a bad batch of lumber, nearly every piece was warped in some way. But instead of letting it frustrate us, we turned it into a joke. “The house may be square-shaped, but it definitely won’t be square,” someone said.
Soon after, the cement truck arrived, and we poured the foundation. Concrete is heavier than it looks, pushing and leveling it took real effort. But when it was done, and the wood was all prepped, we started building the walls. It was nearly 90 degrees outside, and a few members of our team struggled with the heat, but we supported each other through it.
Stephanie and I got to help another team with blackboarding, which was a new and exciting task for me. I caught on quickly and looked forward to doing more of it on Day Two. By the end of the first day, we had all the walls built. I remember driving back to the church and thinking, “I’m so tired… but I’m okay with it.” The tiredness wasn’t draining, it was fulfilling.
One of the brightest parts of our day was meeting Daniel, a boy from the family for whom we were building. He came out and helped us hammer in nails. The youngest member of our team, Zach, bonded with him right away. It was heartwarming to see their friendship grow over the three days we were there.
Day two was great. As the walls went up, the structure began to look more like a real house, and that filled us all with excitement. We started blackboarding, which sounds simple but was actually a challenge because of the warped wood. Sometimes you’d hit a stud every time in a straight line, then miss completely. It was a strange but funny part of the job.
We started on the roof and worked with chicken wire, which I wasn’t too excited about at first. Sharp metal that can snap back is not my idea of fun. But Daniel was right there again, helping cut the excess wire at the bottom of the wall. It turned into a sweet moment of teamwork.
On the final build day came the stucco. At first, I struggled. It’s messy and hard to get just right. But with some help from friends and a bit of trial and error, I got the hang of it, and honestly, it became one of the most fun parts of the entire trip.
The family we were building for had four children, three of whom I got to know well. Melany, one of the daughters, was especially kind. She helped me in little ways, fetching more stucco, making sure I didn’t run out of supplies. Her quiet generosity touched me.
Every day we were on the site, the family fed us. On the first day, one of our team members, Tim, didn’t get a plate. Without hesitation, the mother walked all the way back to the shop to get more food and made sure he didn’t go without. Their kindness overwhelmed me. We came there to bless them, but they ended up blessing us just as much, if not more.
I couldn’t stop thinking about it: feeding a group of strangers for three days would cost a full month’s wages for them. And yet they did it with joy, with love, and without complaint, even though we barely spoke the same language and would likely never see them again.
It wasn’t just about building a house; it was about building. Building bridges. Building memories. Building a new understanding of what generosity and love look like when lived out fully. I went home tired, sunburned, and sore, but with a heart completely full.
And I’d do it all again.
