Sirimangalo.org blessings for the whole world

Today I started making bricks for my rains residence (staying in a tent is against the rules). The experience was something unexpected - far easier than I would have thought, dirt cheap (ahem), and quite a bit more soothing than most of my prior undertakings. The first thing that came to mind, of course, as I trod on the mud, sand and rice husks mixed with water, was that old movie, The Ten Commandments. Once I got over the feeling of being an Egyptian slave, though, it became simply a re-enactment of an ancient ritual, house-building. The feeling of having done the same thousands of times before stems certainly from the fact that I have.

Anyone interested in "discovering your roots" in two feet of mud, is welcome to join us starting tomorrow, when me and a couple of hired hands will begin in earnest. Today was simply a test, resulting in ten squat bricks and a pit of overly wet mud that should make atleast fifteen bricks tomorrow. Attached is a picture of the first ten - they may not work, as I hadn't rice husk and used fallen bamboo leaves instead.

[May 28 Update: we now have over 600 bricks and 1000 more pre made are being donated. Two more days and we can move on to building. Volunteer brick builders are still welcome. More bricks means more huts]