from Sandy

Mike, Ginger and Egla had to visit the worksite for next week’s mission team yesterday and asked Dr Childress and I to join them.  The village has a much different look than the one we are in now and the one where we worked last year.  After driving 15 minutes out of town, we turned off the highway and drove another 15 minutes on a 1 lane dirt road where, in some places, it was slow going because of the mud. 

We reached the village and saw the first home.  It was a small structure, made of sticks.   We turned left at the community well, where we will haul our water for the mortar.  We drove a short distance further to Mrs. Hilarila’s home.  Mike stopped the van on the road to determine how we would reach her house from there.  She hurries across the field a pulls up a fence post to allow us to drive through to her house. 

She and 3 women from the village, along with several children, greet us with smiles and hugs.  With Egla interpreting, Mike and Ginger make arrangements for getting sand and gravel delivered and arranged times for the eye clinic to be held.  Dr Childress prays and we all stand in a circle, holding hands.  Mrs. Hilaria gives Dr C a “thumbs up” – we are good to go.

Her home is larger than others that I have seen and has thick adobe walls with a dirt floor.  Two hammocks hang from the rafters as this is the bedroom too.  We go through the small kitchen to the spot prepared for the new house.  I see an addition to her home, made of sticks in the back. 

The field behind her home is wide open – no crowded worksite here.  There are huge old trees and welcomed shade.  (Don’t forget insect repellant for next week’s team)  A guava tree is growing by the base of the foundation.

Mrs. Hilaria, 70 years old, and four boys, age 6-16, her son and a neighbor laid the foundation and did a magnificent job. 

After more hugs and Adios’ we made our way back across the field, down the dirt road, and on tour current worksite where the youth team and some kindhearted neighbors  are working on the 9^th course of blocks of Mrs. Garcia’s home.  What a day!

Sandy