Monday was spent on work projects -- we split into two grupos and helped our Guatemalan partners convert dirt floors to concrete in their houses. This was a little more than your normal home improvement project -- beginning with the working conditions: 90 degrees/95 percent humidity, inside tin roofs/with no electricity. This meant mixing tons of cement by hand (shovels and hoes). At my worksite, Natalie and Andrea were immediately overrun by every kid in the neighborhood (and for all we know several nearby neighborhoods as well). Those of us wheelbarrowing sand and gravel and mixing cement by hand became convinced that Natalie and Andrea were working much harder than we were. This kind of a project becomes a community affair, so the camaraderie was a wonder to behold, and even included the local chickens, pigs and, of course, mosquitos.
The heat and humidity were oppressive but the satisfaction outweighed it all. Evening devotions were mercifully short as we all were more than ready to fall into bed.
Thanks for the comments posted here. We were all very sorry to miss Sarah Colwill at church Sunday morning. She should have been here!
Amy and Alan Pauw asked about the food. Plentiful. We can all vouch for plentiful. Some of us were not thrilled about being served WHOLE fish for lunch today. It tasted wonderful, but Rachel especially was somewhat unnerved about being stared at by her meal. The fresh fruit is delicious, we are getting plenty of chicken and pasta. The tortillas are out of this world. And a highlight for many of us is the fresh fruit juice (mango or pineapple) that we are served each morning and usually at lunch. In this weather, most of us are having trouble drinking enough water, despite our best efforts. Natalie (Phil, don't read this part) says, "We sweat so much we don't have to pee!" She, of course, speaks only for herself (though she insists she speaks "for all the girls.")
Natalie and Ian led devotions Tuesday morning and talked about the prevalence, beauty and God's promise in rainbows. We've seen more of them in the last three days than Ellen Dozier says she's seen in the last year. We consider them a special gift to us and last night we celebrated them and all the many gifts we've received already here.
May God continue to be with us here and may God continue to be with you there.
Jerry
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2 comments:
Hi all! While you have ben struggling away in the heat and humidity, we have gotten a break and had several beautiful summer days with almost no humidity (for L'vlle anyway). Of course the heat and humidity are returning just in time for the 4th. We are having the 17th annual bike parade in our neighborhood this morning. Then it is off to the Dumensil house for the Crescent Hill Old Fashioned 4th.
It has been awesome reading these blog entries, thanks for keeping us updated so we can all feel a part of the experience. I know this is intense for all of you, may God be with you. You are in our prayers.
Hola a todos! I'm happy to know that you all are having a great time and thanks for having us updated so we can know what you guys have been doing! and I'm happy that you're enjoying the tortillas and the juice! it delicious,I know!!
So keep having fun, and God bless you guys for all the hard work that I know you've been doing there!!
and enjoy Antigua when you get there!! and please tell Ian that PLEASE take a lot of pictures!!=D
So enjoy you're time and may God be with you there!!
sincerely, Ana Lara
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