What I learned is that these extremely poor individuals (living on less than $150 per month) have ingenuity and adaptability beyond what I could conceive. And the end result...individuals incredibly gracious and visibly committed to improving their communities. What was even more amazing was that even though I can not speak their primary language of Spanish very well (muy mal), the smiles on the children and adults' faces was universally communicated.
As we moved from home to home, the 15 individuals with whom I shared this journey taught me even more about communication. Despite the fact that we had varying degrees of Spanish speaking skills, we were able to communicate with each other on several levels. We did not all agree on every policy solutions for making changes in the communities, but we never disrespected one another's opinions. We each came from diverse backgrounds and experiences that provided different perspectives and approaches. When we reflected on our days on the sites and after visiting with policy makers and organizations, we shared our interpretation of the events that unfolded. Like the professional photographer who captures perspective based on positioning of the camera and himself, we all saw things from different lenses. Hearing how each individual comprehended the information or engaged in a moment with a child or a home owner gave us an opportunity to see a larger picture than just what our personal experience was.
Communication was a key component of our trip. We talked with home owners, Habitat for Humanity employees, government officials, nonprofit organizations, and many others through the best language skills we knew. The most important form of communication was through the nonverbal: smiles, gestures, and dancing. (Yes, we even squeezed in a flash mob!) My expectations were surpassed, but more importantly I learned that communicating through action exemplifies the saying, "Actions speak louder than words."
