So the name of the area we are in is Machava and so far the bulk of our work has been in the fields.
The kids that will live here will arrive a few days after we move on, so between now and then we need to make sure everything is ready for them. The fields have been the priority recently because it is from these fields that the boys and the staff who work here get their food. We have removed grass, weeds, old corn and anything else in the way so that the ground is clear, and then tilled the soil (/dust? :-P) into rows for the crops to be planted into shortly. There has been a large field at the front of the house that as of this morning (at 7.30, after two hours work) is pretty much complete and ready for planting, and there is a slightly smaller field in an L-shape at the back of the house which is close to completion (there are some rocky remains of an old building throughout the ground there that we need to try and finish removing before we shape the ground for planting).
We have also been spending time helping Angie, the woman who runs Beacon of Hope, in updating her website, creating a reviewable database of her donors, updating her newsletter format, creating a database from community health visits she has been involved in, writing curriculum for Bible teachings for the kids and doing whatever else might help around the place (this includes the big rota of chores we are all involved in including food prep, washing up, cleaning the bathroom daily, purifying water and more).
We will also be spending time restoring their living space, which has just been cleansed from a sand flea infestation – we will be painting and renovating in whatever ways are needed in that space in the remaining two weeks we have.
Three days ago we were able to get away into the bush – about a forty five minute drive to a ferry, a fifteen minute ferry ride (although waiting to get on, being on, travelling and then getting off took more than an hour) and then a half hour (very bumpy) drive into the bush. A group of us were sat in the back of a truck (the lucky ones sat up front in seats) without cushions of any kind, so I’m sure you can imagine this was not the most comfortable ride of my life. And we had to do it twice of course to get back 😛
It was a good trip though as we were able to meet one of the boys who has lived and will live at Beacon of Hope and experience where he comes from. We also got to meet his family and pray with them all.
Fortunately, we have the next couple of days off, being Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so here’s looking forward to some festivities and hopefully chatting to family.
During the ten days that the other teams were here and we were in the bush in Incaia they were able to make a support video for Beacon of Hope, below:
In case you are interested the break down of things needed for the ministry you can find more information on Jess Fischbach's blog:
