Day 4: Hot and Heavy

Forgive the potential curtness…but we’re all wiped out…and I’ll get to the point (well, as much as I ever do)


Up early for breakfast and off to the worksite down four (same two due to illness and two that stayed at the orphanage to teach a class). With the weather and physical workload today, it was a group decision to have the under-the-weather members of our group recoup for another day—and they both seem significantly better for it, judging by their energy levels tonight. The class was an outreach to our friends down here, spearheaded by Sarah Ketchum. After two years in the planning, some donated sewing machines have been made available here at the orphanage, and she spent the day instructing the locals on some simple use and basic techniques. Mary Bond was her assistant for the day, and it went over very well.

On the worksite, what that meant was that some of the teens took over the responsibility for childcare and teaching for the whole day—but they rotated through. A number of them commented on the fact that it was much more difficult than they expected it to be, and much harder than doing it part-time as Sarah’s helpers. They did a great job though and the kids were thoroughly watched and entertained all day. Also, it was REALLY hot. I know that’s a silly thing to say to those of you in NJ today, but there was little relief from the sun, and the humidity was once again oppressive. Lots of heavy bucket loading, heavy dirt dumping, heavy cement mixing, hoisting heavy buckets of said cement to the roof, and spreading. Also, a few of our crew went to help register families for Tuesday’s medical clinic, a difficult task of getting forms filled out with often-reluctant patients and the ever-present language barrier, for the afternoon in the even-hotter church where we’ll hold the clinic tomorrow.

After dinner and a group study on our trip focus-verse (Philippians 2:1-11), we celebrated a difficult day with a trip to the (shout it loud with me) “JUMBO!” It’s a mission trip thing, and tradition. Jumbo is essentially the Dominican version of a super Walmart, and gives everyone to do a little shopping for whatever they forgot, are missing, or want to sample of the local fare. After returning, we broke into our small groups and dove a little deeper into the meanings and reasons of the passage and why we’re here. A lot of focus on how difficult we anticipate tomorrow to be, not from a physical perspective (though it will likely be 110-120 degrees inside that church), but past trips have taught us that it will be emotionally draining and leave us spiritually raw.

Summary:

-It’s just oppressively hot and humid

-lost bags: 0 (found bags: 1)

-church services attended: 2

-days hard labor: 3

-infirmed: 2 (but recovering nicely!)

-Children Carla has selected to take home to NJ: 23

-Children Sue is disputing Carla’s claim on: 1 (no change)

-Young boys Pastor Mark has selected to bring home: 1 (this is also a dispute of one of Carla’s)

-local boys watching us on the work site buck naked: 2 (but in fairness, the one from yesterday arrive fully clothed and demanded his 20 Pesos for the shirt AND pants. We gladly paid him.)

-Local women taught basic sewing: 4