Today started out as a normal-ish day. Woke up, got ready, yelled off the balcony to Lucas, Patty, and Gabe so I could get a picture of them climbing the hill to the sign. Turns out this was their second hike of the morning and they were pretty darn proud of themselves. The closest I got to hiking this morning was thinking, "Who is making all that noise at six in the morning!?" We asked Lucas about going again tomorrow morning...I'll paraphrase..."no."
Our jobs are nearing completion. Well, most of them. The building to be torn down is now a cement slab that only needs a bit of clean-up. The awning has fully operational shade and again, only a little clean-up and caulking. The volleyball court is so done that there was an actual game played there today. (I took a shower and just shook my head at all the people who still had energy after working all morning.) The sheetrock rooms are a little more tedious. Lots of measurement, lots of planning, loads of cutting, fastening, and fitting, and add to this that they needed to turn on the generator during the day so we couldn't do any work where there was electricity. There was plenty of other work to do and, as always, safety first.
Following the work and the delicious lunch afterward...we went to the sports field (sand lot) to be an outreach into the community. A lot of the same boys and girls came to see what the silly Americans would do today. More soccer. More crafts. More nail polish. More of my poor Spanish. And hundreds of bubbles! Today we had a lot of luck blowing bubbles for the kids. It was just breezy enough to make it challenging for them to pop them all. We had a blast.
I realized, when I looked over what I had written yesterday, that I didn't mention the reluctant girl's name, Gabi (short for Gabriela). She, and her cell phone, came back to the craft table. She continued to help me with my Spanish and she continued to talk about me to her friends. Every once in a while I would catch her and let her know I knew she was talking about me. I told her it was ok to talk about me because I was a Loco Americano (crazy American)...she said, "Si, Loco para Cristo." (Yes, crazy for Christ.) She and I are communicating better and better and just as we are thinking about leaving, I am feeling fairly comfortable talking to the kids...even if they laugh at me and tell me the real words I should say...and mockingly roll their "R's" at me!! (It seems I was born without the rolling R gene.)
Today the Mexican boys came to PLAY! There were cheers and laughter and a couple boys played so hard that they fell and needed some medical clean up and bandages. Thanks to the Fishers for providing us with all the things we needed in the first aid department. (Oh yeah, Don't worry but we used the eye wash solution today...Rich will be fine.)
We ate dinner in the parking lot of a store while everyone used their bathroom to change into nicer clothes than dirty soccer shorts and sneakers. While we did that Pastor Eric, of the church plant, made the final preparations for the service of the night. It was quite a night and I really really want to write about it...but I cannot. I am about to fall over asleep as I type these words. Perhaps I will get up early, not go hiking, and write about the service. I don't want to rush telling about this night and I really want to try to include you, as much as possible, in the experience through my descriptions. I will do my best.
And finally, Mortimer "allowed" me to cut in front of him at the lunch line so he says we are even and I have to change his name again. But he does not want me to reveal him to you all. He thinks it will be fun if everyone has to guess. So your clue tonight is...
I'm sorry, I'm too tired to think. I'm going to bed. Good night.
Our jobs are nearing completion. Well, most of them. The building to be torn down is now a cement slab that only needs a bit of clean-up. The awning has fully operational shade and again, only a little clean-up and caulking. The volleyball court is so done that there was an actual game played there today. (I took a shower and just shook my head at all the people who still had energy after working all morning.) The sheetrock rooms are a little more tedious. Lots of measurement, lots of planning, loads of cutting, fastening, and fitting, and add to this that they needed to turn on the generator during the day so we couldn't do any work where there was electricity. There was plenty of other work to do and, as always, safety first.
Following the work and the delicious lunch afterward...we went to the sports field (sand lot) to be an outreach into the community. A lot of the same boys and girls came to see what the silly Americans would do today. More soccer. More crafts. More nail polish. More of my poor Spanish. And hundreds of bubbles! Today we had a lot of luck blowing bubbles for the kids. It was just breezy enough to make it challenging for them to pop them all. We had a blast.
I realized, when I looked over what I had written yesterday, that I didn't mention the reluctant girl's name, Gabi (short for Gabriela). She, and her cell phone, came back to the craft table. She continued to help me with my Spanish and she continued to talk about me to her friends. Every once in a while I would catch her and let her know I knew she was talking about me. I told her it was ok to talk about me because I was a Loco Americano (crazy American)...she said, "Si, Loco para Cristo." (Yes, crazy for Christ.) She and I are communicating better and better and just as we are thinking about leaving, I am feeling fairly comfortable talking to the kids...even if they laugh at me and tell me the real words I should say...and mockingly roll their "R's" at me!! (It seems I was born without the rolling R gene.)
Today the Mexican boys came to PLAY! There were cheers and laughter and a couple boys played so hard that they fell and needed some medical clean up and bandages. Thanks to the Fishers for providing us with all the things we needed in the first aid department. (Oh yeah, Don't worry but we used the eye wash solution today...Rich will be fine.)
We ate dinner in the parking lot of a store while everyone used their bathroom to change into nicer clothes than dirty soccer shorts and sneakers. While we did that Pastor Eric, of the church plant, made the final preparations for the service of the night. It was quite a night and I really really want to write about it...but I cannot. I am about to fall over asleep as I type these words. Perhaps I will get up early, not go hiking, and write about the service. I don't want to rush telling about this night and I really want to try to include you, as much as possible, in the experience through my descriptions. I will do my best.
And finally, Mortimer "allowed" me to cut in front of him at the lunch line so he says we are even and I have to change his name again. But he does not want me to reveal him to you all. He thinks it will be fun if everyone has to guess. So your clue tonight is...
I'm sorry, I'm too tired to think. I'm going to bed. Good night.
Jeff, Thank you for your wonderful descriptions of the trip. It makes me deeply miss being there with all of you. I am there with you in prayer. I pray for you continually.
ReplyDeleteWe are glad the first-aid bag has come in handy but has not been overly needed. Will continue to pray for that, too.
PF