@$:@bylinerg:<*p(0,0,0,+1,0,10.5,g)>By Adrienne Smatt@bodyindent:<*t(0,0," ")>On July 20, 35 members of Bermuda Overseas Missions 2007 set out for a fifth mission since 2003 to help Habitat for Humanity and build houses for the less fortunate. Adrienne Smatt sent The Royal Gazette this account of their first week in Brazil:<$>@EDITRULE:@bodyindent:<*t(0,0," ")>We've been here for over a week now. Three planes rides, one ten-hour layover, and a long bus ride later we arrived in Limoeiro. Named after a lemon tree, the town is small, revolving around a Christ figure atop a hill and fresh fruit market. The 35 members of Bermuda Overseas Missions 2007 have been welcomed warmly from the start. <*t(0,0," ")>On our first day, last Monday, when we all anticipated jumping into large (hand-mixed) piles of cement we were delayed by half a day worth of welcoming speeches, handshakes (some hugs) and song. We saw examples of previously built Habitat for Humanity homes and learned quickly that Portuguese is not as close to Spanish as we had thought. Only having one translator has enabled us to come up with some jumbled version of sign language in order to communicate with the locals we work with.<*t(0,0," ")>All four sites started out as a foundation with maybe one layer of brick discerning the four outer walls and a few random bricks marking where doorways would form and inner walls would be built. In five days we built up the walls above the door frames and windows, tamped the floor, poured the floor and flung cement at the walls (which is apparently the first stage of plastering the house). <*t(0,0," ")>The people who we are helping are currently living in stick and mud huts with a couple of plastic bags thrown on the top for the roof. You wonder how they deal, how they have been dealing. They never ask for much. They never asked for our group of 35 to come and help build their soon to be home, we just arrived. When we have our mid morning or afternoon snack, we offer what we have and they graciously decline. <*t(0,0," ")><*t(0,0," ")>On Friday we went to an orphanage run by one 78-year-old sister. She helps 60 children regularly. Thirty-eight of the kids she's helped have had their lives taken in one way or another. This tiny woman goes and goes and has been going for over 50 years.<*t(0,0," ")>Looking at her and listening to her story makes you check your life. Is going to Brazil and building four houses in two weeks enough? After all, it is what we're here to do but you get the feeling there has to be more. <*t(0,0," ")>To the sister we donated a pile of suitcases filled with clothes and toys for the children she tirelessly helps. Overwhelmed that we all had brought extra suitcases specifically for this reason, for her cause, she promised to pray for our well being as it is her job to pray for the servants of God.<*t(0,0," ")>Personally, I'm not religious, I never have been. But this woman dedicates her life to God and those children. Even being the person I am, without a belief in a set religion, her praying for us touched me. She is giving all 35 of us everything she can and there is where I begin to understand how these people keep going. <*t(0,0," ")>These people cope and deal not only because they have to, but because they know nothing else. Nothing else matters to them. The iPods, the cameras, the computers, the cell phones, none of it matters. These people, these Brazilians dedicate their lives to living; to thriving. <*t(0,0," ")>We could all take lessons from them as privileged Bermudians. We have another week of building still to go and everyone's body aches but we grab our Advil and a trowel and keep going to help these people in the global fight against inadequate housing.