IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE, ASK A SEPTUAGENARIAN

By Casey

As we've alluded to before, there is an interesting generational mix on this trip. Steven and I are firmly in the middle of the age bracket. But I really wanted to make this post all about the three senior members of our build team. Ghana is tough. Habitat builds in
Ghana are even tougher. And building at the heat of the day at the hottest time of year in Hunjibre sometimes seems impossible. Sounds kinda whiny, right?

Except we have 3 team members who top 70 years old and they are doing it with us every day. Without ever complaining. They slop mortar, hike
the hills, and even take their places in the block line -- heaving 35 pound concrete blocks in 95 degree heat, making sure to both take and pass on the heavy blocks in a way that protects everyone's fingers and toes.

Russ E. -- retired education policy guy. despite being 73 and having
freakin' Parkinson's disease, Russ does absolutely everything. I think
that all of us had the expectation that we should help him out, not have him do the heavy stuff, encourage him to take rests. But that would be like asking the sun not to shine here in Ghana. While at first, he was a little hesitant to participate and he sat out the first day of it. But after hearing us talk about how cool it was to
move those huge piles of concrete, he put on his gloves and said "put me in!" And he did it. He stayed at his place in line for the entire time and when the task was done, I heard his wife say "you doing alright, Russ?" He looked at her with a somewhat confused expression and said "well, it's hot but I think EVERYONE is hot!". Just like that.

Russ is also known on our team for being the first out of the bus every afternoon when we return home from the build... hot, sweaty, and tired. He makes a swift beeline.... for the bar. He emerges 30 seconds with a liter of cold beer and a glass and disappears off to his room to shower and get ready for dinner.

Russ also told me a great joke on the way home. "Casey, did you know that Moses was the first mediator? He came down from the mountain and
said 'Guys, I have good news and bad news. Good news is, I negotiated him down to ten. The bad news is, adultery is still in."

Belva-- 70 year old wife of Russ who has been author, editor, and educator. This trip marks the 50th anniversary of her time in the Peace Corps in Ghana. She and Russ decided to commemorate and honor her service there by doing this trip with Habitat.

She takes her grandkids on safaris to Kenya and hops down to Peru with
Russ just to see what it's like. She is smart, wickedly funny, and once she starts a task on site, it will be finished perfectly and done with style. She is who I want to be when I grow up.

Rex-- what a southern gentleman. Rex is a retiree who has decided that
if he is not working for money, he should be working for communities.
He has done a number of these trips by himself. He is still trying to convince his grandkids to come with him. He's got a wonderful southern drawl and when you ask him, "How are you this morning, Rex?" he responds with "Faaaaantastic, darling"

The three of them provide such a sense of perspective on our time here, on our journeys in life, and on pure grit. Although you all can't see it, I am right now sitting on the porch at our hotel in the evening air and raising a glass of cold beer to Russ, Belva and Rex. I hope I am as awesome as them when I turn 70.