this month was different than the rest of the months on the race. this month was “manistry” for the men. the girls worked together and the guys went their separate way. i’m unable at the moment to have pictures for you because my camera was messed up by a rain that came through on a day we were away from the house. but i will be sure to get some soon from my brothers who were able to take a few for me.
we set out for a month of man labor, burping, less showers than previous months, and sharing our hearts as men for growth beyond measure and a more intimate relationship with the Lord. i can’t speak for everyone else but i know i got what i st out for. all month our ministry was using our numbers to speed up a structure, soon to be a training center for Y.W.A.M., being built. we did all the things you would expect when building a house except we did most all of it the hard ways. we ha to take a truck back and forth to separate locations for rock, gravel, and sand that would be used later for the cement and base for the cement slab. we set huge tree pillars in holes, we dug very very deep, that would later be the structures main support system. we weren’t able to help with the second floor extension to those pillars but we did get them grounded where they needed to be. during the time of moving wood out of the rain, i grabbed a board which had a scorpion underneath it and before i knew it i was hit. within 30 minutes my entire left arm was numb and i could not move it at all. the pain lasted all day which i was told is unusual for a scorpion bite. but i’m ok. i also fell down a ladder where we slept at night and got some mighty nice battle scars on my arm from the tumble. rough month for my body.
we also had to chop banana trees/leaves everyday to feed the cows. during the dry months the cows do not have enotugh grass to eat so they have to feed them something to supplement. or this job we would go somewhere and chop down the trees ranging from two feet tall to maybe 11 feet. then we would bring them home by truck and unload them near the troughs, outside of the fence, and cut them into small pieces so the cows would eat them. we chopped them into baskets and then unloaded the baskets into the troughs. fun work.
oh, at the beginning of the month was the new years for the country. its the hottest day of the year (new years) so everyone for a few days just unloads water on whoever whenever. squirt guns, buckets of water, water hoses, and the list goes on. it was so much fun and it felt great since it was so hot. we went to the river to swim and be part of the cultural festivities around this time and it was a blast.
our contacts were amazing people and really knew how to cook. we ate so well this month. so these are the basics of the month and i want to touch base in depth with the things i learned this month and still learning on another blog. God bless.
