Time to Get Dirty and Sweaty

The last week or so has been pretty hectic. The boys had school regularly last week and the work team from one of my home churches in Dixon arrived Friday night. After a day of travel they were wiped out so we did quick devotions and went over the schedule for the upcoming week. Saturday we all went up to the ministry for the church service. I helped Dan Royer with the young boys and the two other classes had a puppet show performed by Nancy and Hannah (more team members). Pastor Mavis preached and Luis(the founder of the ministry) translated. the entire service went well and it was cool that the work team got to see the ministry in action before they began the physical work. On Sunday we all went to the Valley of Angels. The team did some shopping for souvenirs. I left early with Val to go to the day care ministry in the city to set up for a valentines day party. The party went well, many of the children came to celebrate. We had a dance performed by the kids of the sunday school class in the community. We also had crafts and a pinata in the shape of a heart filled with candy that the kids loved to hit with a stick. I enjoyed spending time with the kids and I have been translating for the team members. I am understanding a lot more and can see improvements in my Spanish which makes me happy and encourages me to keep on learning. On Monday the physical work at the local ministry began and the boys and I helped out with the team. The first thing we did was move all the wood that they are using for bathroom stalls and cabinets. Carrying some of the plywood sheets reminded me of the summer I worked dry walling. After we moved all the wood I went to check on the sewing classes for the ladies of the community to see how they were going. I recognized a lot of the women from the ministry and ended up playing with a few kids that were there with their mothers. I also had to make a few trips throughout the day because Nancy got sick and moved into my room for the rest of the week so I returned to check on her and make sure she was taking medication to heal her. After lunch we continued work, but there wasn't much room or work to do because the team was using the equipment and the wood so I went back to the sewing class again and hung out with more kids. We drew pictures with crayons and construction paper and played games. Monday night there was a special meeting at the ministry for men of the community. Pastor Mavis preached on what it meant to be a christian man and Dan Royer translated. Afterward Pepe Royer led an awesome prayer time with the men and it was very powerful. On Tuesday I wasn't sure whether or not I was going to get to go into the city to work at the day care ministry because if Nancy wasn't feeling well I was going to stay home with her. Fortunately she was feeling up to it and I was able to go. We dug up/leveled of the ground to lay cement, put up screens on the patio windows so kids could not throw toys out into the street, painted the inside of the day care, and then mixed/laid the cement slab. The work was physically hard but very rewarding. The kids now have a much safer day care to go to every day. After we were done working we loaded the truck and van and I sat down on a ledge with some kids from the community that live near the day care. A few kids turned into about 10 or 15 who were all related and lived in the same building with each other. I knew one of them from the day care and saw many of them around. I sat and talked with them, learned their names, and got introduced to the whole family. I thought I would only be there for a few minutes but then one of the ladies in the community offered to feed us because she saw our work. We also helped a family of the community move a bunch of brick to a roof to add on to their house. It was great bonding with many people of the community but my favorite part was being with the children and just sitting with them climbing all over me just taking and laughing. One of the team members even asked me if I ever get sick of kids climbing all over me and hanging on me and I immediately said no. I love the joy that kids are to me and how even after a day of hard physical labor they give me so much energy when they are around. After we ate the dinner which the lady from the community prepared for us we headed back to Zambrano covered in sweat, dirt, paint, and cement but all happy with how the day went. Today the boys are starting school back up so I am at home with them while the team is working at the local ministry. I am going to head up there to work when the boys are done with school which should be shorty after lunch. Please keep lifting the work team up in prayer as this week continues and for God to bless the work they are doing here in Zambrano. Adios and God bless.