They had a very strict schedule we had to follow: We took a half hour break at 10, whether we wanted to or not (most of us did not want to)
and then a full hour for lunch at 1. If it rained, forget working! They said American groups always get there and want to just fly through and put the building up really fast. We didn't disagree. After the first day, we had laid six layers of brick and had to stop there.
During the second day out there, we put the windows in place. This was how they held the windows up while the bricks dried.
After the second day, this was our classroom:
The kids were in school while we were there, and many times, during their breaks, they would come up to say hi to us and thank us for being there and building a classroom for them. They were all so sweet! 
The local workers said they would stay there all day if they could but that they had to be in class. They had to literally chase them back to class a few times!
It was amazing to see how much the children valued their education there. I peeked in the windows when I could and talked to a lot of the kids during their breaks, and Watoto schools are doing something right with educating these kids - we could learn something from them! 
The students are very smart, they have so much self-discipline, and they have hopes and dreams that they not only WANT to accomplish, they KNOW they will accomplish!
These girls were hilarious. I ate lunch with them one day, and they told me all about their school and themselves. They laughed at me a few times because I had eaten one of their traditional banana dishes plain (it wasn't supposed to be eaten plain, nor was it very good that way), and they showed me how to eat it the right way! They were so genuinely sweet, generous, grateful, and funny! They also shared with me how certain students have the position of a Christian Leader. Their job is to make sure all the students are doing their devotions every day and acting like good Christians. LOVE IT.Watoto villages also have a good system of discipline in place. Ivan was tardy for class one day, so he had to cut grass for a few hours. He showed me how and let me help him for a little bit!
The third day, I helped Ruth strike the brick towards the end of the day (Don had to get the high ones for Ruth), and that became my job for the fourth day.
We knew we were not going to get to see the complete final project (they have to get professionals to do the roof and the archways), but this is what the classroom building looked like inside:
And outside:
and once the professionals get in there, it will look like this!
The last day, we got to dedicate the building to the kids. This was incredibly touching. We praised God by singing and dancing and then laid our hands on the wall and prayed for the kids who would be touched by this classroom. All of us had felt like we could have done so much more while we were out there, but the pastor and other members of the crew and organization put it into perspective for us. Every classroom seats nearly 50 kids at one time, and with several different classes going on all day for (hopefully) many years, we have built a classroom that will give thousands of God's children a Christ-centered education!
I am so thankful that we were able to help build this classroom, and, who knows? I may end up teaching in it one day! We will see what God has planned for me :)
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