Back the worksite, bright and early. A little finish work on the roof, finish filling the building with dirt, and tamp it all down to the right height. While you’re here, why don’t you dig a 6’x6’x6’ pit that can be used for septic in the back yard! So lots of bucket lines, lots of pick swinging, and lots of shoveling. The roof is done, the rough fill of the floor is done and ready for cement tomorrow, and the pit…well, the Dominicans were not too impressed with our digging prowess (reminders of last year), and it’s not nearly done (but in fairness, we hit coral only a foot down or so, and that means just chipping away at really hard rock.
We came back to the orphanage at lunch time to change into beachwear, grabbed prepared lunch to enjoy there, and hopped on the bus to a local beach for the afternoon. At the beach, everybody got the opportunity to relax a bit, as our friends from the orphanage joined us in playing in the surf, strolling the sand and tide pools, and just catching some naps in the sun or shade. One other important group joined us at the beach as well. We invited Pastor Nellie and his family (wife and three boys) to come with us to the beach for lunch and the afternoon. I was privileged enough to eavesdrop on a conversation between Mark and Nellie about a bunch of topics, including what brought him to ministry and specifically in El Brisal. It struck me significantly during this conversation when I heard that this was only the second time his sons had ever been to the beach. Just when I think I’ve stopped making assumptions and taking things for granted, something like this hits me. I just assumed that living less than 20 minutes from beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, it would be a somewhat normal occurrence. It might as well be a world away, as their only form of transport for the family is a small motorcycle…which while it does accommodate a family of 5 (Dominican style), is not really doable on the highways to the beach or for carrying the necessary items for the day.
We returned to the orphanage for dinner, followed by a study from Mark of Jesus feeding the masses with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. In small groups, we discussed how our small gifts, talents, and efforts can likewise be multiplied by God, beyond our wildest dreams. We should think nothing is impossible or too big a task, when it is in His will and when we follow and obey in faith. We all then convened for a four-fold birthday party. Elsa turned 17 (watch out fellow Jersey drivers!), Alex (a young man we’ve gotten to know over the years here at the orphanage) turned 18, and Pastor Valentin and Ynliedy (a young woman here at the orphanage) had also just passed milestones recently. We had twin cakes, blue Spiderman for the boys and pink Cinderella for the girls. It was a pleasant celebration with a bonded group of friends…where language, economic, cultural, and historical barriers didn’t matter. In thinking of the whole day, and why I titled this post as I did, is that while work was done, a beach visited, study done, and party enjoyed…the whole day was about enjoying the company of our mission team and our Dominican friends. Tomorrow looks to be a difficult and long day, with LOTS of cement. Lord give us strength. Today recharged us emotionally, but physically the toll is evident.
Summary:
-Hot humid day, with occasional drizzle, but heavy rain only hit on our way home from the beach.
-lost bags: 0 (found bags: 1)
-church services attended: 3
-days hard labor: 3.5
-infirmed: 2 (but now recovered. Praise God!), three others with symptoms but pharmaceutical intervention
-Children Carla has selected to take home to NJ: lots, somewhere in triple digits
-Children Sue is disputing Carla’s claim on: 1 officially, but I think her number is close to Carla’s
-Children Michelle plans to bring home: 1 (yup, this one’s disputed too)
-Young boys Pastor Mark has selected to bring home: 9 (at least, for his baseball team)
-local boys watching us on the work site buck naked: 2
-Local women taught basic sewing: more than 8, and Sarah is giving private lessons too
-Families treated: 150
-Wounds treated: hundreds
-Coming unions blessed: 1
-Beaches visited: 1
-Birthdays Celebrated: 4
No comments:
Post a Comment