Monday, 27 June 2011
Good Morning, all. I finally had a complete nights sleep. Thank you, God. The last couple days have really been wonderful gifts. While the men worked on the house foundation the rest of us packed the truck with about 20 heavy suitcases and several, maybe 10 food bags, 6 water filter kits. All the families we visited were completely indiginous. Looking around I saw beautiful children in thread bare shirts ,too short pants with holes, shoes that were broken or none at all. They were very happy to get a couple new shirts, pants and one pair of shoes. It was soooo cute. We were definitely lacking proper shoes for the women and men. We are collecting a lot of good ideas for how we can really make an impact here. We don't want to change them. We just want to give them a hand up. There was not a feeling of feeling sorry, just that they were very gratious and need just a little bit to help them out. The food was major. We gathered around the family and prayed in spanish while the mother prayed in their native language. It was very emotional. While most of the team went caving, I stayed on the grounds because of my cold. I was very headachy and congested. More climbing didn't appeal. While I rested on a hammock, a little girl approached me. Her name was Filomena. She wanted to sell me a thread bracelet for ocho quetzeles. We bartered a bit but she wouldnt go down enough for me. We did start to try to converse. It was great. One thing that is stiking me is they are so great and if only we could really talk to have a conversation. It would be sooo much fun. The frustration was on both sides. Sunday the men finished the house build. It was so amazing. I felt so proud of my boys and the team for this accomplishment. It was hard, back breaking work in very hot conditions. We watch Saul explain the new stove to the family and they were so excited. They saw all the room they will have in the new house. We prayed and cried tears of joy and then started to clean up and reload the cars. It was hard to say goodbye. There is a connection that will always be there and I will always wonder how they are doing. We hugged, we waved, blew kisses, we waved some more. We pulled out, waved, concerned about leaving as this will be forever until we meet in heaven. I will always remember them in my prayers.