Today was our first day working in San Juan. We have eight work crews, most with three volunteers and a local mason. Each crew is nearly finished with a stove. We hope to build 16 by the end of this week.

Each mason taught us the skills that we need.  Each crew worked under a mason that taught us how to mix mortar, level the stove, and stack the cinder blocks.  They were very patient with us.  Most of us are pretty much beginners.

We are eager to help the families we’re working with, and they are glad we are here. The children are especially glad to see us, and our young adults already have made friends for the week.

-Don Baraglia