Today we spent time talking about cultural do’s and don’ts
before heading to our assignment working on a facility in a very poor part of
town. It was a 45 minute drive,
not because it was far but because the road in is so very bad. We met with a pastor and his wife who
are called to work with the children of this impoverished area. The children do not have many modern
conveniences and the drop out rate in school is high. Most don’t get past 3rd or 4th grade
and end up working to support their family as early as 10 years old. Their ministry is a 4 day a week lunch
program, a homework club, parenting classes and English lessons.
The pastor and his wife gave up a ministry in the church
they were in and in two years have gone from bare land to a a community center
and an auxiliary kitchen attached to their house.
Our assignment today was to dig ditches for the footings of
a building. I was using a pick axe
and cleanly cut an unseen water pipe with one stroke. Sort of like Moses striking the rock- water shot
everywhere. However, I was not
afforded the same awe as Moses, they just told me to move aside. I will hopefully still see the promised
land.
After a temporary fix was attached to the pipe and we took a
lunch break we carried on with digging the two 20’ by 2’ deep trenches by pick
and shovel.
Lunch consisted of a light broth with pasta
followed by a thicker meat and vegi soup and of course tortillas on the
side. We drank hibiscus leaf tea
that tastes like Kool Aid or juice.
A big thunder storm hit just as we finished for the day and we said
goodbye to the children and the pastor and his wife and began the drive
home. Everyone being exhausted
meant there was little conversation and a lot of sleeping in the van. More later.
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