As I am sitting here desperately trying to tan my transparent legs, I am looking out across fields towards the “mountains” (more like tall hills) in the distance. The fields are currently being plowed by cows hooked up to yokes. Young children play amongst them with random scraps they have found lying around. I am grateful for this sunny afternoon that is around 75 degrees. It normally begins to rain around this time which makes it difficult to get work done.
This month has been incredible yet challenging. My squad and I are spending June at an orphanage in a remote part of Ethiopia. With all 32 of us together again, we have been split into 3 teams. One team is doing children’s ministry, playing games and making crafts with the residential orphans. Another team is doing a teaching ministry, helping the kids both at the local school and here on the compound learn English. And the final team, my team, is making bricks for houses to be built out of in the future. Each day is filled with lots of dirt, blisters, and spotty electricity.
In order to build a brick, there are many steps in which we must first accomplish. 1. Break giant rocks down into smaller rocks/dirt. 2. Shovel said rock/dirt through a softer and haul it to a pile via wheelbarrow. 3. Mix sifted dirt with cement in a giant mixer. 4. Water dirt and cement to make a moldable texture. 5. Shovel mixture into machine that compresses dirt into brick shape. 6. Move wet brick into sunshine to dry.
This process happens everyday for my team, which means we are getting plenty of exercise and sun exposure. Working has been fun and gives us plenty of time to get to know one another. The hard part about this month is that we have zero WiFi and no way to contact our families. The only way my blogs are being posted is because our lovely StoryTeller is traveling 3 hours away to post them for us. Up until this point on the Race I have not struggled with homesickness. Now, it is hitting me like a ton of bricks (hehe). Although it is hard, it has pushed me into the Word like never before. I have been reading the Bible and Christian books constantly and it has been amazing. What truly amazes me, is how much You can get done in one day without checking your phone or social media.
I ask that you pray for health and safety for my squad and I as we continue pushing through month 9. If you also wouldn’t mind praying against homesickness and for perseverance, that would be fantastic!
Love you all,
Brooklynn
