If we build it...

If we build it...it might just fall apart, or so our Habitat for Humanity site manager told us yesterday when Hubby and I – along with 4 other friends – were helping to build a Habitat house in Durham. It was our first time volunteering and it was obvious that we didn't know what we were doing. Not even a little bit.
With about 15 total volunteers on site yesterday, the Habitat manager divided us up into 4 groups, each group assigned a different task. I somehow got on the "Who's comfortable climbing an extension ladder?" group. It ended up that climbing an extension ladder was the least of my worries. I honestly thought that the frame of the roof was going to fall on my head and an 8-inch nail would impale my brain at any moment.

The above photo shows the chunk of house we were working on. The other volunteers were working around the house putting up siding, working saws, and building other frames.

Here Hubby and I pose for a photo, fresh sawdust on our hats.

It feels good to know we built something. But here's how the instructions went:

"Okay, you four go ahead and put up the frame for the roof," said the Habitat site manager, as she walked away.
The four of us: "Okay, now what?" We were completely lost. "Who here has built a roof," one of us asked? Silence.
So we guessed. We took some measurements, stood on some ladders, nailed wood, lifted heavy boards, nailed boards together, and baked in the hot sun.
The site manager came back by every 30 minutes or so. "Ohhhhh, what have you done here," she'd ask? Wrong. "Nope, do it like this instead."
Such instruction might have been slightly more helpful to know in the first place.

Habitat is a fantastic program that allows the future homeowners to purchase the house with a zero-interest loan. The homeowners also have to put MANY hours of sweat equity into building their future castle. Like I said, the program is awesome for those in need.
According to our site manager, Habitat has built more than 50 homes in the neighborhood in which we were working within the past 5 years. How great is that?
I just wish I would have known how to be more helpful. Possibly more instruction would have helped, or perhaps I should just wait to volunteer again when they are ready to paint the house. I know how to paint!