Friday/June 27, 2003
The last work day . . . several of our groups go to Precario to work on the house - others stay at the farm to try to finish some of those projects.
At the house we are digging a trench to divert the rain water around the house.
We need about 2 ½ feet of dirt to build up the floor to level. The local
teenagers flock around and take the tools; it is obvious that they want to help.
The family next door is planting various plants along the fence row. By lunch
we had capped the top plat and since we didn't have a beam, Jed started constructing
one. A local Tico made great suggestions and wanted to help, of course, we included
him. At lunch it was obvious that either we had been forgotten or transportation
was not available to pick us up to go in to eat so we walked back to the farm
(several had walked to the site due to lack of
transportation). It was so humid; the walk seems to be getting longer.
We did catch a ride back to the site after lunch. Our goal for the afternoon was to erect the ridge plate and put in at least two rafters so the next team could see the "plan". Jenny and Kayla left to play soccer with the locals and almost immediately there was a cloud burst. There was no shelter and no transportation to leave so we kept on working in the mud. It was almost impossible to get the heavily constructed beam on top of the wall supports, the local Tico scurried to the top to help; he and Neal made quite a team while Jed held it on the other side. At one point a support teetered and we were all afraid it would tumble down, but thank God, it did not! After that the Tico left.
During the beginning of the rain the local youth scurried to their homes. Jenny and Kayla continue to play eventually leg wrestling in the mud, then to full fledge mud wrestling. The local teenagers were watching and soon joined them in an all out mud war. It appeared that they were having the time of their lives. Of course, with the local sanitation conditions or lack thereof, it was not a wise move. I kept wondering how those mothers could wash those clothes in a basin?! After the "war" a garden hose was located and they took turns hosing each other off. They were called for supper and as they told Jenny and Kayla "adios" for the last time, you would have thought they were life long friends. They traded possessions and addresses. Certainly our teenagers had communicated unconditional love.
While the rest of us didn't get to participate in the war, we were almost as muddy (except Donna, who found a downspout to stand under to wash off!). We finally get the ridge beam up and pretty well supported. Marion picks us up and we want to work a little longer. He reminds us that we have done what we can and others will continue. Sophia and her brother have been outside with us and he has been a lot of help. It is hard to leave! Some start walking to the farm, some pile in the back of trucks, we were unbelievably muddy and tired.
There are only two showers that have tepid water in our cabin, the other three showers only have cold. Cleanup was a long arduous process. The rain kept coming in bursts. We put our clothes outside in the rain, throwing some away.
For supper, no rice and beans! We have roast, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Jeb shares the vision of the roof for Sophia's house with a member of the Tennessee team, drawing on a napkin. At sharing time we cannot believe we are to pack-up, it seems like we just got here. The other group has had several emergencies; we are doing well, a sprained ankle and a thousand bug bites (Betty gets the prize for the most) and sore muscles, but nothing more. Praise God!
We recount our accomplishments these five days. We have been involved in over
20 projects and the Bronco, while not finished, will be drivable. We have not
had to spend much money on supplies, so we get to leave a good bit of money
to help support this awesome ministry. Too bad it's not enough to buy some additional
form of transportation. Eric was able to get some of the intended computer work
done… there is so much more that we all want to do.
We are all exhausted, but don't want to take leave of each other at sharing
time. Mary Claire asks us to write our impressions of the trip while they are
fresh on our minds. She mail it back to us after we are home, when we will have
left the cocoon of the team, I am sure the trip will seem unreal to us. I write
to my daughter, I have never seen her "shine" like she has here. I
think about those who sacrifice so much to live their lives, not just a week
or two, to mission work and am in awe. I feel amazed that Regina is in Bangladesh
and wonder how her parents were able to let her go…Trust and obey, there
is no other way.
