Teamwork

Teamwork

We had a busy day moving materials, building pads and constructing a small septic field for the new showers across base.  Dinner was strongly looked forward too, along with a quiet evening in the AC and the tent.  But as dinner finished up we cold hear the sound of a semi truck chugging up the driveway.  Ken, the big boss around here, said there was a truck coming in with 1100 concrete blocks on it.  So off we went to the expansion project over the fence to help out.

Everyone in sight brought skids up to the rear of the truck.  I jumped on the back and said, ‘let’s go!’  Within minutes people started crowding the back of the truck as three more men hopped into the back and started passing blocks down.  Haitian blocks aren’t constructed the best; the concrete they use is low in quality and sparse in the mix.  The blocks were heavy and soft; maybe 25 pounds each, and cracked easily. 

At first the progress seemed quite slow.  Within the first thirty blocks I smashed my finger and could also felt  my back starting to give out.  So I called one of the younger kids to take my place and I took a break. Francois suggested getting the skid loader to move some of the skids out of the way; so I did.

By the time I returned there were over fifty Haitians throwing blocks everywhere.  There was a system of sorts because none were damaged.  Apparently, Ken had called a house of Christians up the road and they came right down to help out.  I sat in the skidsteer and watched the action.  The back of the huge dumptruck was packed with men moving blocks at a feverish pace.  Concrete dust poured out of the back along with a mix of the diesel truck exhaust; it reflected in the intense generator driven lights overhead and looked like smoke from a bonfire.  As the blocks passed out the rear of the truck, willing hands from five or six lines of other men and women grabbed them and ‘bucket brigaded’  them to skids where another group stacked them in layers six high, thirty to a tier.  It seemed as though the pace never slowed; only got faster and faster. 

Finally a cheer from the truck resounded across the base.  The final block had left the truck.  The rest of the camp joined in the celebration with shaking of hands, clapping and laughter.  The workers milled around for an additional twenty minutes or so congratulating each other on a job well done.

It was fun being a short part of the project.  But it was more interesting watching the teamwork unfolding before my eyes.  Everyone had an excitement and expectation of the final block coming off the truck and pitched in with all their heart and effort to make it happen.  I think these Haitians have a desire to participate in work projects when the spirit of camaraderie is present; they can work as hard and fast as anyone.  They smile, laugh and seem to enjoy the final prize; being finished together.   I wonder what can harness that resource?