Demolition!

Sometimes we build homes. This time we destroyed one. Well, sorta.

The assignment was to demolish part of a home so that it could be made, uh, more better, as they say. It's an unusual task for Esperanza, the Tijuana organization that has built homes for hundreds of Tijuanans over the past 25 years, but the 25 visitors from St. John Vianney Parish in Kirkland, WA were up to the task Monday.

Esperanza staff, friends and neighbors attended the pre-demolition meeting with the property owners, Paola, in the red shirt, and her husband, Gustavo, on her left. At times, Gustavo was unable to conceal his deeply-felt gratitude for the help from the volunteers.

The demolition site was situated at the base of a sharp bank of sandy clay. Note the tires which were worked into the bank to make a staircase.

Wilson watched as a army of worker ants set about their work.

As others tore at the roof from above, Tom Nadeau hammered from below.

Stevel Ellis, right, peeled back shingles and pried up plywood. Klaus Schwientek, left, prepared to pitch the plywood to the ground below.

Ben Larson peeled off a two-by-four

An Espeanza truck conveyed the tools to the work site.

Klaus Schwientek, Greg Seiler and Stephanie Larson watched the demolition from above. Schwientek is a diesel mechanic and Seiler an architect.

Mike Kline and Shelly Cerio rip out a doorway under the watchful eye of Klaus Schwientek.

Esperanza staffer Sean MacCarthy removes roof trusses while Eduardo Zabala Reyes of Esperanza climbs up to join Greg Seiler, who is standing on the level where the old structure will be positioned.

Somehow, even when operating a power saw, Greg Seiler has managed to never bite his tongue.

Susan Nadeau doesn't let a little hard work keep her from wearing her fashionable earrings.

Lifting the first wall for the new structure onto the upper level.

Lining up the first wall for the renewed building.

Alisen Barrow and her mom, Deana, fuss over a bemused Karen Maxwell, who received a nail puncture in her calf.

The resurrection: The old wooden structure takes on a new shape and a new elevation.

Tom Nadeau and Steve Zeller line up for lunch while Karen Maxwell, recovering from her leg wound, triumphantly squeezes past with a plateful of food. General agreement was that the frijoles were the best they had eaten -- anywhere!

Chris Larson lines up for a meal served up by Paola in a very small and crowded kitchen staffed by friends.

Stephanie Pratt tries her hand with a sledge hamnmer while Steve Ellis gets out of the way.

Steve Ellis persuades the concrete to let go of the rebar.

Nick Petlow operates a jack hammer while Steve knocks down more wall.

Demolition is virtually complete. Now time for cleanup, and then preparation for a replacement structure.

The work site at end of day The doorway at the far wall leads to the kitchen where the volunteers were fed. Atop that part of the building is the reconstructed house, which will gain a new roof on Wednesday. And by mid-summer, a new concrete-block home is anticipated.

The obligatory end-of-day group shot.

Paola hugs Jan Kline, coordinator for the volunteers.

I should add that this dispatch was posted in haste. Any typos are the property of the author.

Love,
Robert, and
Wilson

Sceiler and  Schwientek squaring the corner for the reconstructed wooden building. (This really great photo was taken by Jan Kline. --ed.)