Tuesday, July 19, 2011

This morning we awoke to an absolutely beautiful day.  Not a cloud in the sky.  And at 6 a.m. you can hear all kinds of soft little sounds all around, birds chirping, a truck engine off in the distance, dogs barking over on the next hill.   It is so green and pretty here.   Banana trees, flowering trees…..    Breakfast at seven consisted of what we would consider to be a submarine or hero sandwich.  After gathering together in a circle for prayer we started on our work for the day.   We have more steel beams to paint and prepare for the trusses.   Jimmye tried his hand at welding as two of the beams are put together to help form part of the truss.   We had a little laundry to do but the water pressure is so low it took about an hour and half to do one load.   Then the clothes were hung to dry on a long piece of electrical cord that was strung across the middle of the property.

We had a few more church members help us out today so painting went very fast.   We finished up all of the big pieces that will make up the main trusses.   People are a little tired and sore after working so hard yesterday.  We planned to stop work about 3 p.m. but since most of our painting was completed in the morning we finished up the rest and were pretty well finished by 2.  But, when we straggled to the rooms to clean up we found that there wasn’t any water!  Apparently the city had turned off the water, which “happens some times”.  Thankfully there was a small back-up tank that Victor, the job foreman, came to open up so that we could have our trickle of cold water showers.

Before we came on this trip we prepared lessons and craft supplies to have a VBS for children, if possible.  This afternoon was our opportunity to do that.  So after cleaning up and gathering up our supplies we loaded up into a bus we had rented to go a small mission outreach for La Finca.   It’s in a area about 15 minutes away called Guatusa (“Watusa”)   It is mostly comprised of migrant workers from Nicaragua.  Although it hasn’t rained today at La Finca we’ve seen the clouds build up all around us and it is raining as we arrive at the little mission.  It is nestled down a steep little hill and behind some houses in a field full of flowering bushes and trees.  The church is a simple building with canvas walls.  Their pastor is Leonardo.  He is one of the associates at La Finca.  We can hear lots of talking, giggling and screams as we walk down the path and are seen by the kids.  The building is full of children and mothers.   Pastor Johnny from La Finca introduced us.  Deanna gave a lesson on being the salt and light in the world. Anne interpreted for her then we had a little craft for them.  It was quite an effort as we worked with  all the kids and many of the mothers in making paintings out of colored salt.   Some of the little church girls then had a program for us.  They were dressed in black pants, white shirts, white gloves and white painted faces and mimed a song for us.   Then we had candy and some beach balls to pass out.  Oh what pandemonium!!  I don’t think all the kids got a piece but I’m sure many got several.  We guesstimated that there were about 50 kids and maybe 30 moms.  We left there at 6:30 p.m. and it was quite dark already. 

Arriving back at La Finca we found supper ready for us.  Spaghetti tonight.   Evening devotions tonight by Jimmye.   We’ve had such a great time so far on our trip.  The team is great. Everyone gets along well.  There is lots of laughing and teasing.  Good team work.  Devotions by Jimmye and praise songs by Cheryl and Mark have led to a great spiritual time and a closeness that we will always remember.   But, now to bed for a good nights sleep.