Friday Farewells

11-26

Friday, it always seems to be a special day. Although it is still 3 days before we will see our loved ones at home it is already the beginning of the farewell. We have completed the VBS and normally don’t work on the construction project and often don’t even do home visits.

This morning we had scheduled a softball game with the young men of the community, however there was a problem. When the activities of the week were being planned before we had arrived, the ball players had requested the game to be in the morning. However the field required a lot of work to be ready for a game. Part of the deal is that they prepare the field. When we arrived for the game they had barely begun to mow the weeds and grasses. It is done with machetes and is very labor intensive. We had already been warned by the Food for the Hungry staff that this problem was coming. Seeing that the preparation had not been completed the game was called off. It was difficult but very much a tough love situation. At the farewell meeting this evening the youth shared with us that they will be sure to prepare the field well in advance of our visit next time and apologized for the inconvenience and embarrassment they had caused. It was truly a good opportunity to teach them to be accountable.

Since the game was called off we returned to the house repair project to complete the few tasks there. The last door was hung and the barrel bolts were put in place. All that remained was a time of prayer for the house and the family and a few pictures. We all gathered in a circle around the house holding hands and prayed out loud together for the protection of the house and the family there. It was really great to see the huge smiles of the woman of the house and her children. The carpenter will continue to complete the final details of the house and the local FH workers have promised to send us some pictures. They will be dividing the bedroom into two rooms, adding new interior doors, some more internal structure, and some rain diversion and painting the outside to help preserve it. At this point it is so much better than what was there when we arrived. Praise God!

This trip has given us the opportunity to see that even in this very poor community there are levels of poverty. When we arrived some of us commented that it would be difficult to pick which house should have repairs done to them as we saw all the structures as inferior. However, our familiarity has opened our eyes and sharpened our sensitivity. We have seen houses with dirt floors and barely a window as well as those with tile floors, electric appliances and very nice furniture. We clearly see the needs here. During a walk through the community we was another of the houses that will be almost completely rebuilt as a result of the funds our trip as provided. What a blessing to share in this ministry.

In the afternoon a few final home visits to sponsored children were accomplished. And the ladies once again took the time to bless those who had cooked for us with pedicures. It was a very fun and informal time for all.

I had the opportunity to speak at length with Edward, the community liaison for Sierra Prieta from Food for the Hungry. He shared the many ideas he has for working in this community. One of the problems we have observed this trip is the increased violence and lack of respect among the children. This problem is due in large part to the lack of men in the community and the scarcity of work nearby that causes parents to need to travel far and leave children unsupervised. We talked of strategies that have worked in other communities to develop job creation and encourage family values. It is exciting to get to be in on the ground floor of God’s work in the community.

The afternoon brought farewells with the community and especially fond farewells for our fellow team members our translators and local Food for the Hungry workers. We will miss them all and are so glad for the relationships that have grown from being here.

The evening brought the farewell service from the community and another church service where we were able to share our songs, testimonies and a sermon.



More on this to come. It’s getting late and I am accompanied here by only candle light and snoring.