Bringing Together Worlds Apart

Always Enough

2006-09-03T09:37:00.000-07:00

Yo Builders,

I pray everyone who was headed home has arrived safely and is now clean and well-rested and that those who were moving on to further adventures continue with buoyant spirit.

For your post-trip follow-up reading, please consider Always Enough, by Rolland and Heidi Baker, the founders of Arco-Iris, or Rainbow, the ministry with which João and Danika and Corey and their orphanage are affiliated.

If you're not a Jesus freak like me you may have trouble swallowing some portions of the book, but it is an astounding account of what God has done and is doing in Mozambique, in which you have now had a hand.

Blessings,

Jordan

Consider Prayer

2006-09-01T22:06:00.000-07:00

Greetings Builders,

Our time in Mozambique has come to its conclusion. Jim and Davy Rogers are just about home and the rest of us begin dispersing this morning from the Maputo Ibis Hotel for most of the points of the compass.

We've had a significant impact, through our words and actions and laughter and singing and dancing and crying, on one another, the people we've served and the people who have served us. Often, at times like this, something like grief sets in when we call to mind the intensity and intimacy of our time together and realize it's over. But we needn't suffer that grief in vain. As significant as the last seventeen days have been there is open to us an even more powerful means of effecting the lives of others: prayer. You and I might work a lifetime and never accomplish the good God can bring about in a moment. And God longs to bless His children if only we will ask. Turn your grief to prayer.

Prayer isn't hard or complicated because God is not far from each one of us, for in Him we live and move and have our being. Everything that passes through your mind passes also through the mind of God. You need only turn your thoughts towards God and you're praying.

So when you remember Luisa or Cecilia and their families or the children of the cane house or Aida or Adriano or Bennie or Miguel or Arsenio or Leonardo or Danika or Joao or Julia or Anita or Davy picking a college or Megan preparing to study in Ireland or Erinn knocking on doors that might open for her an opportunity to work in Mozambique or Sandra finding out how she'll make work with children a regular part of her life or James studying in France or Kathryne embarking on her writing career or Rahim pouring himself into other works of service or any of the other people connected with our trip, you needn't just long for their best. Ask God for His best in their lives and in the lives they touch. Just wait and see what happens if you do.

Please know that I will be praying for each one of you, that God would bless and keep and prosper you in every way. Thank you for helping make our trip so special.

Affectionately,

Jordan

Emergency Contacts

2006-08-17T03:13:00.000-07:00

For your peace of mind and that of those who care for you, here is contact information for the people and places we'll see:

Habitat for Humanity International Global Village
Mozambique August 17 – September 3, 2006
Habitat Area Coordinator
Treva Wetherell 1-229-924-6935 ext 2191 (W)
E-mail: twetherell@habitat.org
Director of Global Village
David Minich 1-229-924-6935 ext 2547 (W) 1-229-928-9341 (H)
Cellular emergency hotline 1-229-886-7911
Fax: 1-229-924-0577 (W) OR 1-215-243-8051 (Desktop)

In-country HFH Contact
Kevin Kehus
National Director
Habitat for Humanity Moçambique
Rua Almeida Garret, 12
Maputo, Moçambique
hfhmoznd@tvcabo.co.mz
Tel: +258 1 414 314
+258 82 316 3000
Fax: +258 1 414 290
Office Mobile: +258 82 313 031
Aida Tembe: Project officer: +258 82 420 0840
Daniel Lyons: Peace Corps Volunteer: +258 83 382 4159
U.S. Embassy in Mozambique
American Embassy
Avenida Kenneth Kaunda, 193
Caixa Postal 783
Phone: (258) 1 49 27 97, 49 16 59, 49 01 67, 49 12 15
Fax: (258) 1 49 01 14
Maputo, Mozambique
MEDEX Travelers Assistance Network (24/7)
Policy number 6404-54-47, MEDEX code CHB
1-800-527-0218
OR
1-410-453-6330 (US)
44-273-223000 (UK)

IBIS Hotel (August 18-19, 30, September 1)

Av. 25 de Setembro, 1743 Maputo
Tel 258 21 352200
Fax 258 21 352220

Inhaca Azul Lodge (August 20-29)

Inhaca Azul Lodge, Inhaca Island, Maputo, Mozambique
Manager: Toni – 258 82 7171860. Lodge: 258 21760020
Movis : Inhaca Azul management: +258 82 382 4159

Camp Skakuza, Kruger National Park, South Africa (August 31)

The Rogers Family

2006-08-14T11:17:00.000-07:00

Davy and I now feel pretty confident that we can win the last post prize, so here goes: I (Jim) got to know Jordan five years ago, when my eldest daughter, Katie, and I were Habitat volunteers in Braga, Portugal, where Jordan was the Project Manager. It was on that trip that we started the tradition of early morning walks through historic Braga for exercise of the body and the mind. I came back to Braga the next year with my younger daughter, Betsy, co-leading a trip with one of the team members from our first visit, Kathy Davison. Three years later (last summer), Kathy led another group back to Braga, so I came once again, this time with my wife, Bonnie, and son, Davy. As you can tell, I have found Habitat trips to be very rewarding experiences, as have my wife and all of my children. When Jordan proposed a trip to Mozambique, Davy jumped at the chance.

Davy is a senior in high school at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC. He loves music (both listening to all kinds of music as well as learning to play his guitar), is a great athlete, especially with any sport involving a ball, and is an excellent writer and filmmaker. He is the JV Sports Editor for the Whitman school newspaper and he will be bringing some video equipment in hopes of memorializing this trip on film. Here is a picture of Davy and his two sisters taken on the Amalfi Coast last April when we were all celebrating my wife and my 25th wedding anniversary. (There are no pictures of me because there aren't enough gray pixels to get all of my hair.)

I am a lawyer with the law firm of Latham & Watkins, where I have practiced for 25 years (so far). I am a corporate lawyer and do deals, especially in the communications and technology areas, although some deals involve life sciences and biotech and some involve fast-food restaurants! Between work and family I'm pretty busy, but I try to find time to play, to stay in shape, and to be involved in pro bono and charitable activities. I like to travel, and I've never been to sub-Saharan Africa, so I'm very excited about seeing a new part of the world, giving back to the community, reuniting with Jordan, and brushing up on my few words of Portuguese.

Responding Creatively to Your Trip Experience

2006-08-09T13:56:00.000-07:00

Greetings Builders,

Most of you, I hope, will remember discussing with me on the phone the idea of responding creatively to your trip experience.

This is an additional responsibility I'd like you to consider assuming, for two reasons: First, in order that the rest of us might understand and appreciate our own trip experience differently and perhaps better in light of your creativity; and secondly, in order that we might share some of these creative responses with people who have supported us and with potential participants or supporters of future Global Village teams.

Creative responses might take any form: they might be written, they might be visual, they might be auditory, they might be electronic, they might be performed. They might combine all of those. They might deal with the trip as a whole in its larger context or treat only a single detail.

Whatever your preferred art form, consider employing for the benefit of us all.

There's no deadline. You may turn in your project any time after we return. Please let me know if you're willing to take on this challenge and if there's anything I can do to facilitate your creativity.

Thank you for your consideration.

Jordan

Kathryne's post

2006-07-29T06:47:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys! This is a picture of Erinn Hatter and I on her roof in NYC where we were viewing fireworks for the fourth of July. I am on the left. We are both on the trip and have been friends since rooming together in college.
Well, I am finally posting, long overdue! Our trip is fast approaching and I am sure you are all as excited (and maybe a little nervous?) as I am. I can't wait! A little bit about me...I live in Brooklyn, NY, and work in Manhattan as a free lance costume designer. At this point in my young career, that means I assist other more established costume designers. I have just completed a movie here in New York and I am thrilled to have the next couple of weeks to prepare for our trip and enjoy a little summer.
When I'm not working, I love to sew, paint, and write, especially write. I have a secret ambition to one day write a great novel. I guess that's not so secret any more. I am an avid journal writer and am very much looking forward to taking my journal to Mozambique. I am also looking forward to building, anything involving working with my hands to create something is pretty much right up my alley, even the schleping of cinder blocks sounds fun to me!
Ok guys, good luck with your trip preparations, I can't wait to meet you all. See you soon!

Greetings from the Ramstack Girls - Katie and Mary.

2006-07-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

OK! We finally succumbed to the pressure. We do not want to be signed up for cement mixing duty at high noon.
Some people think we are sisters, mother and daughter, or friends. But the truth is we are Aunt and Niece and we will let you figure out which is which. So, this is our story:
The photo is a picture of a recent adventure to Costa Rica - we survived that trip and thought we were ready for another adventure -- Africa. We are excited about the opportunity to live and experience a new culture and see a part of the world that we have never traveled before. We look forward to meeting our team members and working beside each of you. And also, gaining an appreciation for all the gifts we have been given and sharing them as well. However, being single female homeowners, any home repair skills we pick up will be icing on the cake!
Mary is from Chicago and is one of ten children, and the oldest girl. She has been fortunate to be able to see many parts of the world in her job as project manager for a global pharmaceutical company. When Mary is not traveling for work she enjoys playing a round of golf and gardening. Africa has been one destination that she has wanted to experience and she has also wanted to have an opportunity to volunteer abroad. This trip will achieve both of these goals.
Katie is from Charlotte, North Carolina and is the middle child of three. She has a three year old dog, Luxie (named after Luxemburg from her student abroad experience). She is an account manager for an employment background verification company. She has studied abroad in Europe and has had the opportunity to volunteer as a Habitat for Humanity team member in Florida during a holiday break in college. She thoroughly enjoyed that experience and is back for more. She is very excited about the opportunity to meet people from around the world and share her caring nature with others.
Growing up in a large family has taught us to be patient and also to enjoy life - many of our family memories have been filled with much laughter. We hope to bring this joy of life to this adventure.
See you in Mozambique!

John Mosely:

2006-07-04T04:52:00.000-07:00

Hey team, hope everyone is getting pumped for our trip, because I certainly am. So about myself, I grew up in Portugal speaking english at home (my parents are american) and Portuguese at school. Went to Portuguese Public schools until high school where I went to an international school in Germany called Black Forest Academy. Met a lot interesting people there from all over the world and had a pretty awesome time. So then I came back to Portugal and started college studying International Commerce(which is fancy for business). And that's where I am now, trying to plow my way through exams.

Interests and hobbies, well I was a big athlete in high school, setter for the volleyball team, point guard for the basketball team and center mid in soccer. So I love sports that involve a ball. I am a pretty laid back guy socially more up for a quiet talk with a couple of people than a big noisy group. I love books and movies, sci-fi and fantasy being my favourites. Hmmm what else, I guess the last and maybe most important thing in my life would be my relationship with God which makes my life infinitely more exciting and meaningful. So can't wait to meet all of you and get to work making an unforgetable experience.
Cheers,
John

Why Do We Serve?

2006-06-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

Why are you going to Mozambique? Why do you want to help people? In your carry-on bag of expectations are you packing snapshots of moments shared with Africans wherein they appropriately express their appreciation—albeit without a common language—for the trouble and expense to which you’ve gone in order to build them a house?

I’ve been meaning to write you for several weeks about a conversation I had with a Portuguese friend named Amélia who has six years experience working in southern Mozambique. She says she’s seen a devolution in the attitudes of the Mozambicans. She says they’ve become so accustomed to handouts on the one hand and corruption on the other that they can be very uncooperative. They’re convinced half the resources meant for them go to line the pockets of whoever’s in charge, leaving only the leftovers for them. Foreigners and white people are assumed to be rich and are expected to give. Amélia says they’re increasingly unwilling to collaborate on volunteer projects without pay. She’ll be impressed if we see much cooperation from our families.

And it isn’t only the natives who may not appreciate your motives. Justin Fox, a South African travel writer, concludes his 2002 book, With Both Hands Waving: A journey through Mozambique, by saying, “I couldn’t but feel that missionaries and religious charities were often yet another form of enslavement Mozambique could do without . . . Christianity has had a bad track record in south-east Africa . . . “1

That could take the wind out of the sail of your dhow.2

The Bible says, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Everyone loves those who love them. If you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Everyone does that. Love, do good, lend, without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”3

I’ll be surprised if we don’t leave with at least a few snapshots of appreciative faces in our memory bags, but if that’s all we’ve got in there it may not be enough.

Jordan

1 With Both Hands Waving, p 203.
2 Dhows—small wooden fishing boats with triangular sails—are the mules of the western Indian Ocean and provide a living link to this corner of Africa’s rich, and at times tempestuous, maritime past. (With Both Hands Waving, p 208.)
3 Luke 6:32-35

Meet Rahim Mulji

2006-06-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

My name is Rahim Mulji, 31 years old, an Investment Banker from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. While living in Alberta now for just over 1 year, the majority of my wonderful life has been lived in Vancouver, British Columbia. Here is my story: I was named Vice President of my firm January 1st, 2004 and was scheduled to move from Vancouver to Calgary on July 1st 2004. In mid April 2004, I was working out at my local gym and discovered a lump in my armpit, thinking nothing of it except for what all the beautiful ladies would think, I made an appointment to have it removed. Low and behold it was discovered, that I had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (Cancer of the Lymph Nodes). Six rounds of Chemotherapy and 40 consecutive days of Radiation Treatment had left me cured, but very tired. It’s been just over a full year since I have been Cancer free, and I feel that I am as good as new!! I have learned from this episode in my life, that we must take time to stop and smell the roses, rather than just running by them. In that regards, HFH is something that I have always wanted to do, but now WILL make the time to do. My intention and goal from this trip is to be able to give something back, but selfishly, I realize that I will be the one receiving 1000 fold over.

You all seem like absolutely amazing people, and I look forward to working closely with each and everyone of you.

Sincere Regards!!

Rahim

Bom Dia from Erinn Hatter!

2006-06-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow builders! I feel that it is now my time to share a little bit about me with you. I am currently a resident of New York City. I've been living here for just over one year and have found myself wearing many different hats. I served coffee, then food, I danced and rehearsed for free, I worked at a summer camp, I interned as an administrator and now earn some pay for it, and currently teach preschoolers the joys of art...but I am still, as reporter Anderson Cooper describes, "finding my bliss". I anticipate that my sudden compelling urge to join HFH has something to do with it.

I'm a pisces (and the one with only 6 birthdays, I was born on Leap Year Day) so I've learned to follow my intuition. I tend to lean towards the introspective and thoughtful, but once defined am more than willing to share any realizations honestly and heartfelt-ly (is that a word?). Oh, and I also have a wacky sense of humor, as Kathryne can vouch for, so don't be surprised by my sarcasm...appropriately timed of course. If you can't laugh along the way, the road will be much longer.

I am eager to step out of the realm of comfortability and experience new things, new people, new places, new ways of being, and anticipate our time in Mozambique being one of clarity, realization, and life-changing direction.

Looking forward to meeting you all!

Meet Isabel Serrano

2006-06-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

I'm a girl(34...) who practises law. I've been working as a consultant of the vice-mayor of my town, Portimão, Portugal, and I'm loving it. You get a new perspective of the problems people have and I've learned that patience is a virtue.Somethings just take their time...
I was born on the 23rd March, so I'm an Aries. I'm christian (my family is catholic but I have some differences regarding their ideas).I love animals and music. I've been living alone since I graduated, so I'm used to having a space to myself. I have a temper, but I apologize as quickly as I get mad. I'm looking forward to meeting everybody!!!

A Word About Donations from Our Volunteer Coordinator

2006-06-12T04:35:00.000-07:00

Here's what Anastase Nzabilinda, volunteer coordinator for the Mozambique Habitat affiliate had to say in response to a question about donations:

Regarding donations, it will be great if those interested could bring nonmonetary items like school and art supplies and books in English. I know these will be very helpful for school children. In fact, during last month's GV build, we visited a school and some team members had some objects to donate like pencils, balls, etc. and this helped a lot. Clothes will also be welcomed since there is a great number of people in need. Right now, I am not sure of any thing else you could bring besides the list of tools you have, but because this is generally a poor community, any help to them is very much appreciated.

Thanks.

Anastase

Hello There~!

2006-06-11T17:11:00.000-07:00

Hello team.

My name is Ilhwan Kwon, all of my foreign friends call me James.
I am 32 years old and from Seoul Korea. I am an international business developer for a telecommunication company in Seoul and have electrical and computer engineering background. I have worked, lived, traveled, and studied in 8 countries on 4 continents. I have been involved with several charity and community activities, and am currently leading a small ~30-people-organization which supports field trips and other cultural and social events for orphans.

What triggered my interest in Habitat for Humanity was the War on Iraque. I was on a business trip in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when the war broke out and witnessed a suicide bombimg in the middle of the City's government district. Seeing the chaos and agony people were going through, I realized how much I was ignorant about people in needs in countries other than my own. I searched for a means to get involved in an international volunteer activity and found HFH. Even though it was a great opportunity to make a direct contribution to and to immediately improve people's lives, I have not had a chance to get involved as I can't be absent from my work more than 5 days. Now, I am in the middle of a job transition, I am more than excited to be a part of GV project.

I believe this experience will be more beneficial for me than for Citizens of Inhaca as I always find myself more matured and strengthened after a volunteer work outside of my comfort zone. I anticipate many difficulties and discomforts, but I can't wait to experience new cultures and work with a group of wonderful people from all around the world.

Megan MacCrellish: starting it up

2006-06-11T10:46:00.000-07:00

Hi group -- I thought I'd take the initiative and post the first little paragraph! I've been travelling up and down the west coast (Washington and Oregon) with my boyfriend over the past week or so and have been pretty out of touch. Our upcoming trip is certainly on my mind often.

I am twenty years old and from Belmont, Massachusetts - a suburb of Boston. I go to school in the rolling hills of Vermont at Middlebury College where I am an Economics major with a strong interest in Film and English as well. I run track at Middlebury, racing mid-distance (mostly the half mile). I have always loved performing onstage, and have continued that interest in college. I take voice and guitar lessons and enjoy the great outdoors. This summer, I'll be on Sebago Lake in Maine for my tenth summer at a girls' summer camp. I teach sailing and am also the director of drama at this camp.

My greatest hope for our trip together is that I learn - about a foreign culture, forming relationships, all of you, and maybe even myself. I haven't done much world travelling, and I am more than excited to be exposed to a new part of the world and push myself to integrate into an entirely new community and culture. I think the trip will also provide excellent intellectual discussion about how what we're exposed to has changed or solidified our own spiritual, political, and moral beliefs. I think the entire experience will be an amazing challenge. Can't wait to hear from the rest of you soon!

Team Paperwork Week Closing Ceremonies Continued: Visas

2006-06-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

Greetings Builders,

Often, the conclusion of Great Festivity is marked by some traditional reckless act on the part of participants, a symbol of finality and closure. Smashing champaigne glasses in fires and throwing graduation caps into the air come to mind.

And so it is with Team Paperwork Week. In an act of seemingly extravagant recklessness most members of the team will be hurling one of their most prized possessions--their passports--into the mail to the Mozambique Embassy in Washington, D.C. in order to receive the visas necessary to enter Mozambique.

(In an act of lesser recklessness, those of us in Lisbon will be taking the Metro up to the Embaixada da Republica de Moçambique, 7 Avenida Berna.)

The only thing remaining to be determined is whether we'll be entering Mozambique just once, in which case the single-entry visa is $20, or whether we'll be entering once again after visiting Kruger Park, in which case the multipe-entry visa is $40, a money order for which you must include with your other visa requirements:

Visa Requirements

*
Citizens and permanent residents of all states require a visa; copies of green cards are required for non-US citizens except canadians.

*
All visas must be obtained at the Embassy of the Republic of Mozambique.

*
Applicants must submit the original passport that should be valid at least 6 months from date of submission and have at least 1 blank page for visa stamp (amendment pages are not acceptable).

*
Applicants must fill out the application form.

*
Applicants must submit 1 passport-sized photograph or 2 photos for first-time applicants.

*
Applicants must include a self-addressed and stamped envelope preferably registered or pre-paid air bill if processed visas are to be returned by mail or courier.
*

Both Canadian citizens and citizens of the United States applying for visas will have to mail all their requirements to Mozambican Embassy in Washington DC at 1990 M Street NW, Suite 570, Washington, DC 20036.

For more detailed information about visas browse the web site www.embamoc-usa.org. Use the "jump to" pull-down menu. Should you need additional information do not hesitate to contact Joana in the visa section at mozambvisa@aol.com

And please let me know if I can be of any help.

Thank you for your attention to detail.

Jordan

Habitat Fundraising Guide

2006-06-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

Greetings Fundraiser-Builders,

Habitat for Humanity publishes a spiffy brochure full of fundraising ideas; everything from bake sales to sky-writing.

To get your copy just send an email asking for the Spiffy Fundraising Brochure to: gv@habitat.org

Jordan

Meningitis

2006-06-08T06:23:00.000-07:00

Greetings Builders,

A number of team members have asked whether they should get vaccinated for meningitis. Though we here at BTWA assiduously avoid disseminating our own strongly-held medical opinions, we did, upon receiving these inquiries, review our notes--a jumbled mess of Porutuguese and English--from our visit with Dr. Francisco Godinho at the Institute for Tropical Medicine in Lisbon. When we found nothing about meningitis we called Dr. Godinho who assured us that a two-week visit during which we will have only incidental contact with children does not, in his opinion, justify a meningitis vaccination. If the trip were a month or if we were going to be working closely with children every day, he says, the situation might be different.

Dr. Godinho's opinion does not mean, Builders, that you should not ask your own physicians for theirs and follow the advice of whom you trust. It's just the lastest word from Lisbon, admittedly a happening place.

Have a great Thursday (one of the really underrated days of the week).

Jordan

MVB

2006-06-06T04:40:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Wendi Ben-Ari, named this week's Most Valuable Builder (MVB) for her adroit internet work.

Just take a look at this gorgeous sight she found: The World Through My Eyes.

Plans are in the works to be in touch with The World Through My Eyes Project Coordinator Blake Schmidt, who (coincidentally?) hails from the Pacific Northwest, to find out how we might become better acquainted with the project while in country.

But that's not all Wendi did! She also found our Official Team Anthem, which will be our means of identifying one another in airports and marketplaces. Click here: Mozambique and sing along!

But you other Builders needn't be intimidated just because Wendi's gotten off to such a fast start. If you'll keep asking great questions and reading websites and orientation materials carefully, you too may unearth the sorts of gems that could lead to your being a future MVB!

Blessed Tuesday.

Jordan

To Kruger or Not To Kruger?

2006-06-03T15:15:00.000-07:00

Greetings Builders,

The total budget for the trip comes to $1838 per person so that the balance owing, after your $350 deposit, on or before July 3 is $1488.

That amount does not include the $137 and an extra entry visa it would cost per person--providing at least 15 people go--to visit Kruger National Park in South Africa--which people in the know say we should do--on Thursday and Friday, August 31 and September 1. We are a team of 16. Are there 15 who would like to add the $137 and go?

An alternative would be to travel within Mozambique to a coastal resort in either Bilene or one of the resorts near Xai Xai. This, too, would be an overnight stay on Thursday, returning after lunch on Friday. This would cost less.

Also, 1/2 day and full day tours of Maputo can be had for $50 and $120 (includes lunch) respectively.

Please let me know right away what you would like to do.

Shabbat shalom.

Jordan

Katie Ramstack asks, "Do we need a visa?"

2006-06-01T15:01:00.000-07:00

Hi Katie,

What an ideal question to ask during Team Paperwork Week! You've really got the spirit!

The answer is yes, we do, and you may read all about the requirements at: http://www.embamoc-usa.org/requirements.php

The tentative plan is to enter Mozambique twice--once at the beginning of the trip and once again on September 1 after visiting Kruger Park in South Africa--so we want the muliple entry visas, which the state department website says are good for three months, so that today is the first day for us to apply!

A few of the details still need to be confirmed, but everyone can download their visa applications from the Mozambique Embassy link at right ("Jump to" download visa form) complete them, and get a couple of nice passport photos while we're doing the confirming.

Thanks for being on your toes, Katie.

Jordan

Team Paperwork Week

2006-05-31T09:42:00.000-07:00

Greetings Builders,

The next step in our journey is downloading and completing the
Emergency Contact and Global Village Release and Waiver of Liability
forms, and submitting them along with a copy of the ID page of your
passport. Thank you in advance if you have already taken care of this step.

Emergency Contact and Global Village Release and Waiver of Liability forms can be downloaded now from http://www.habitat.org/gv/pdf/gv_eci_waiver.pdf

The completed Emergency Contact and Global Village Release and Waiver
of Liability forms and the copy of the ID page of your passport may be
returned to the Global Village Department using one of these methods:
A. Fax the forms to HFHI at (229) 924-0577
B. Mail the forms to: Habitat for Humanity International, Global
Village Department,PO Box 369 Americus, GA 31709-3498, U.S.A.

Questions may be directed to the Global Village department via e-mail
gv@habitat.org or telephone (229) 924-6935, ext. 2549.

Then, you must email me scanned copies or send copies of all three documents to:

Jordan Kleber
Apartado 22613
1147-501 Lisbon
Portugal

So today is the Official Opening Day of Team Paperwork Week, which lasts until next Tuesday, June 6th. Before sundown next Tuesday please mail your paperwork to Habitat and to me and keep a copy of all three documents to carry with you on the trip.

Please also keep me posted on developments with your flight arrangements and forward me copies of your itineraries once reservations are made.

Finally, please send me confirmation that your vaccinations are under way.

Thank you for your work. You're going to be a great team.

Jordan

Flight Arrangements

2006-05-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

Greetings Builders,

Once again please do not delay in making your flight arrangements.

To repeat, we hope that everyone will be able to catch one or the other of the following flights so that we may all arrive in Maputo at the same time:

TP (TAP, a Portuguese airline) 283 17AUG LISBON TO MAPUTO 730PM 925AM 18AUG

or

SA (South African Airlines) 142 18AUG JOBURG TO MAPUTO 940AM 1045AM

Again, if you'd like help making your arrangements, rather than just doing it yourself via travelocity.com or orbitz.com or expedia.com or a similar site, you might speak with Terrie at Universal Travel in Americus, Georgia. Her email is univ_tvl@bellsouth.net but I would encourage you to call her at 866-924-9365.

As soon as you've made your flight reservations please forward a copy of your itinerary to me. As always, please let me know if there's any way I may help.

Have a great Thursday.

Jordan

A Day On the Job

2006-05-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

Here's what a typical work day might look like on Inhaca Island, Mozambique:

6:00 Calisthenics on the beach with Jim

7:00 Breakfast at the Lodge

8:00 Build

10:00 Tea

10:30 Build

13:00 Lunch at the jobsite

13:30 Build

15:30 End of work day

16:00 Remove accumulated grime and perspiration

18:30 Dinner at the Lodge

19:30 Team meeting

20:00 R & R

Meet the Team

2006-05-15T23:59:00.000-07:00

By the numbers:

• 8 men
• 7 women
• 2 Portuguese
• 4 Portuguese speakers
• 5 Spanish speakers
• 9 French speakers
• 15 English speakers
• 1 Italian speaker
• 3 Canadians
• 1 Irishman
• 5 New Yorkers
• 2 African Americans
• 3 Europeans
• 4 Third Culture Kids
• 1 person born in the 40’s
• 1 person born in the 50’s
• 2 people born in the 60’s
• 3 people born in the 70’s
• 7 people born in the 80’s
• 1 person born in the 90’s
• 1 person who’s had just 6 birthdays
• 1 person who’ll have a birthday while we’re together
• 3 Artists
• 3 Dancers
• 9 Writers
• 4 Photographers
• 1 Singer
• 2 Lawyers
• 15 Builders (6 w/experience)

Shaun Ben-Ari is a teenage globe-trotter from New York fluent in Spanish who enjoys working with kids.

Wendi Ben-Ari is an ESL teacher, a Fulbright scholar, and Shaun’s mom.

Mike Christensen is a high school counsellor turned builder and father of five young men from Seattle.

Erinn Hatter is a dancer and preschool art teacher from Pennsylvania now living in New York City.

Rochelle Kirton is a 4th year Trent University business student and entrepreneur from Ontario, Canada, whose parents are from Barbados.

Jordan Kleber moved to Portugal from Seattle with his family in 2001 to work with Habitat for Humanity and now operates VisitingPortugal.com in Lisbon with his wife, Debbie.
Here's Jordan, right, with (R-L) son Drex, wife Debbie, daughter Austin and Austin's husband, Vitor.

Megan MacCrellish is a camp counsellor and sophomore economics student at Middlebury College in Vermont.

John Mosely spoke English at home growing up in Portugal. Now he’s a first year international business student in Porto, Portugal, and deadly from three-point range.

Rahim Mulji is an Investment Banker from Calgary, Alberta. He was raised in a Muslim household by parents from Tanzania and Kenya.

Lee Richmond is a veteran Global Village volunteer and sales manager from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Davy Rogers is another veteran Global Village volunteer and sports columnist from Bethesda, Maryland.

Jim Rogers is your insurance policy. He leads Global Village teams in his sleep. If Jordan goes to pieces, he’ll pick them up. He practices law in Washington, D.C. and he’s Davy’s dad.

Isabel Serrano practices law in Portimão, Portugal.

Kathryne Wick grew up on Long Island, studied art and roomed with Erinn at Penn State, and now works as a freelance costume designer in New York City.

Accommodations

2006-05-15T23:58:00.000-07:00

We'll stay just a short walk from the jobsite at the Inhaca Lodge.

We'll sleep comfortably beneath our mosquito nets--which the Habitat affiliate will be providing--unless our roommate snores, the way Jordan snores. (Don't forget to pack earplugs.)

Each morning at 6 Jim will lead you all in calisthenics on the beach.