A new experience for breakfast started the day with something the kids called "squares" - some type of oats baked into a cake served with syrup and a side of fruit. The juice is fresh every day and I think we have had 6 different kinds.
Today's project required loading up carpentry and concrete tools into wheelbarrows and walking a mile to a rural home of a single mother. No running water, no bathroom, 2 rooms built with assorted pieces of tin attached to posts. I hesitate to call the structure a shack, because the love of the mother amd the joy in the children showed it was clearly a home. Our goal was to close in a "porch" area and pour concrete for the floor to make another room, and replace the tin siding (I can't imagine how hot this made the house in this climate) with the same wood we were using for the new section. See the photos for the efforts of the young folks in the transformation.
I am probably sounding a bit redundant about the eagerness with which these kids go about the tasks at hand, but after the initial realities of the living conditions sank in, and a round of prayers, the group began stripping metal, digging dirt to prep for the concrete, sawing lumber, and building walls in more ways than one. A walk back to the school for lunch and back on site until 5:30 made it a long day. Everyone appreciates and looks forward to the cards and notes you have sent ahead - Thank you!
A quick dinner of eggs and potatoes before church service in the evening - which began with hymns and praise songs with familiar tunes but with Dominican lyrics. An imteractive prayer time is routine in every service where members and guests are encouraged to bring blessings, thanksgivings, and needs before the group. The message was from 1Cor 13 and one of the local Ministers, Richard, shared how important it was to love as God loves us. These people are passionate in their faith and their love for God.
One of the activities I have yet to mention are the evening English classes that 10-12 of our kids have been helping with. There are 30-40 students from young to old learning the nuances of the English language. Thursday night we will move from simply assisting the local missionary to fully leading the class. Andrea Bagley is doing a terrific job in heading this up.
Please pray for the local people that we are growing to love. While their spirits are strong, their lives are not easy. Our team is all good with no sickness and no injuries, but please continue to pray for endurance - We will finish strong!
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