Currently listening: The sounds of the internet cafe. And trucks. Lots of trucks.
Well I finally got my wish. We are spending our month doing manual labor. It sounds silly that that is my wish. Why would I want to heap a huge amount of work on myself and my team? I feel most useful when I am doing manual labor. I am on a team of leaders, Evangelists, musicians… people who are good at many things(I’m not complaining, I love being on a team with this group of people) and while I have no great talent, or fancy skill I am most good at using my hands. Robert would be proud. So far this month we have:
Hauled bricks
Re-barbed a building
Mixed concrete
Shoveled rocks, sand, and dirt
Laid dirt for a road
Carved out part of a mountain
Dug a poop hole(for a toilet)
We’re a week in and it has already been a long month. As a squad we are all staying together but going to different ministry sites. My team is working along side another team which adds a different dynamic but a much appreciated one. We’re sleeping in a church and then going to other churches here in Palacagunia to do our ministry. The very sweet and precious ladies of the church we’re staying at have been providing us with our meals and a place to do our laundry(handwashing). Internet comes from an Internet cafe down the street at 10 cordobas an hour(25 cordobas to the American dollar). It ‘s been a very full week. From some kind of church service every night where we’re staying to my team and the one we’re working with providing the music at our church on Sunday morning. Complete with 3 hour church services.
The one random and beautiful thing this week came in the form of our M squad men on Saturday night. Starting on Thursday(Valentine’s Day) each lady on M squad received an handwritten Valentine’s Day card from our wonderful brothers. Saturday night was a night to celebrate us(M squad ladies). We were told to dress up and be ready at 7:00. Our main meeting area had been transformed into a beautiful place. Tables with place cards, candles, and table cloths(no easy feat to gain here). After being escorted to our seats the slide show began with pictures of all of us. Our dinner was brought out, a wonderful meal of a single piece of fried chicken, fries salad and our choice of Pepsi, Fressa or water. We also got the special treat of cake! We celebrated 2 birthdays this week and that was the belated present for our birthday girls. And to finish the night, a video of our men singing “Just The Way You Are” that they filmed that day all sound Palacagunia. The ladies were all blown away by the thought and sweetness of our beloved brothers of M squad. They definitely made this Valentine’s Day the most memorable and beautiful.
