Easter fell in April this year. “Semana de Santa”, or Holy Week, is filled with activity here. Antigua is alive with many activities for all the visitors such as daily processions in the streets. I feel fortunate to be here during this time to be able to see and participate in the celebrations.

Things run very differently here around Holy Week. Given the holiday season, last week we were without a Vision Team but nonetheless we were finishing up the construction of a house for an affiliated family. It is always a great feeling to finish a house because of what it represents-a new beginning for the family, better health, and so much more.

It was the “so much more” I found myself thinking about as we were putting the final touches on the house. Something was missing. I realized it was the Vision Team and all the energy and excitement they continually bring to the project. I have found over the course of my year in Construction with Common Hope that one of the greatest results of the process of building a house is the time shared between the family and the Vision Teams, the common goals and a mutual feeling of appreciation they share.

So as we were driving back to the Family Development Center, I was thinking about all the things that are represented in each house from the help of the Vision Teams, the amazing support of our donors, the exhaustive efforts of the social workers, the coordinating efforts of hospitality and the offices in St. Paul, the list goes on forever. All are fundamental parts of each house. I am very lucky to have the opportunity to work with the volunteers and staff on building houses that are the terminus of so much effort from so many places that, at least for me, represent so much.

Christopher Knuth has been volunteering with Common Hope for over a year in the Construction department. He also works with the Becas (youth leaders) in a music program which has grown from the initial Saturday morning practices to include music theory on Monday nights and Friday night rehearsals. He really enjoys working with the bright hardworking students involved in this program. Chris spends his free time studying the philosophy of mathematics and plans to return to school after one more year of service to the Family Development Center in Antigua.

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