Rain, rain go away!!!

Well, unlike yesterday today brought lots and lots of rain.  But despite that we forged ahead!  The construction team started building a new home for a family of eight whose old adobe home was in horrible condition and ready to collapse at any time.  The team started out by carrying 90 lb bags of concrete from one area up some stairs to another area.  Some of the team members were unable to do this task due to back issues and others described it as very difficult causing them to sweat and lose their breath.  So, got the picture, now the next thing that happened was some Guatemalan women decided to help so they backed their bodies up to the truck, a man swung a bag onto their backs and the women began running with these 90 lb bags!  They blew our team away!  They obviously carry a great deal on their backs on a regular basis.  The day was successful and this team will go back tomorrow to continue this work.

The family project team began the day sorting our bags of donations and fitting children with shoes.  Then while one group went to install stoves, the rest took shoes to a preschool and were able to fit around 30 kids with shoes.  Then it was back to distribute the chickens to families who had waited for several hours.  It was quite a challenge for some of our kids to pick up those chickens.  Let's just say it was obvious we don't live on farms!  After lunch we split into 3 teams to build more stoves.  By this time it was torrential rainfall so while we had ponchos, we were all soaked.  Of course it doesn't help when you are traveling in the back of a pick-up!

So, you're probably thinking "I'm never going on that trip."  But even despite the conditions, we are reminded as we look around that getting wet for us is nothing compared to how these people live...rain coming in their roofs, living on dirt floors that turn into mud during the rain, possibly no bed to sleep on.  No, we won't complain about getting wet.  We are here to serve and make a difference and we are doing just that!  Praise God!!  (Picture to follow later)