Late last night, Steve and Eric took piping down to a small community of homes just below where we are staying. The water pipes through the street (dirt area) have burst and raw sewage, etc. has been leaking into the street. We purchased new piping if the men of the community were willing to do the work. A "work party" is being organized for Sunday. We were also able to purchase a new toilet and piping for a family of 11 who live in a very small (300 sq.ft.) area. Steve worked with the husband, showing him how to do the work needed. The "bathroom" is at the foot of a very steep stairway and one of it's walls is a cliff side. Their previous toilet was old and cracked and was held together by caulking.
Today we went to the school for their July 25th program. How fun to watch the children in traditional costumes sing and dance in celebration of independence. Many of the parents were there too and seemed appreciative that the Gringos (not a word of disrespect, just fact) were there with them. They school cook fixed us a traditional breakfast of rice & beans as a thank you for our work there. The parents all brought food to sell and raise money for the school. We were amazed by both these acts of kindness and charity since these are people who by almost any standard have nothing. I cannot help but remember the Apostle Paul commended Christians who gave to those in need out of their own poverty. Let's learn from this and not hold on so tightly to "our stuff".
We finished painting a 2nd large wall that we started earlier in the week and the ladies spent time doing some fun bead work with the kids. Our friend Tito helped too and he finally began to feel comfortable enough with us to start trying his English. What a blessing to see this kid strive to grow as a person and Christ-follower. We had a great time with him all day.
In the afternoon, the ladies headed off to the women's rehab center and then men went with Tito and Luis to the area of the village where men got to use crack. What a place of darkness we encountered! We prayed right there in the middle of this place that the Light of Christ would shine brightly and that the bondage of drugs would be broken -- especially in the lives of the little kids we saw earlier in the day -- this generational sin must be broken! Along the way we met up again with Elwin (now we learn it's actually Edwin). Through Luis' interpretation and Tito's strong ability to share openly with him, we believe that Edwin may yet give his life to Christ. Here is this 21 year old guy standing in the middle of the street crying and telling us how dirty and sinful he feels because of drugs yet knowing that he wants to be free. He is seeing Christ pursue him in a way he never has and that is rocking his world! His commitment, at least today is to got to rehab on Monday. Pray for him that this will happen. He is fearful that he will do crack again since he lives in the streets and has no safe place to go. There are no options for shelter here like there can be in the States.
The ladies took time to head into the village again stopping at homes to pray with people and share Christ's love. Everyone back home should be proud of the way they have overcome the fears from a few days ago and really stepped right back into ministry.
In the late afternoon, the guys headed off to meet a man whose "home" is under the big bridge near here -- not just under -- literally his roof IS the bridge! He is an elderly man who has lived there for 8 years. He believes completely that ALL he needs he finds in Jesus. O that we would have this kind of faith when we face a stuff time, let alone when we might live under a bridge with no running water, oil and car fumes filling the building. We are sure that the food we took to him is much appreciated and needed. As we prayed for him we were confident that we had met a saint of the Most High God.
Tonight, we'll spend time at a local restaurant together and enjoy retelling stories of God's grace and love and the amazing power of the spirit we have seen this week.
Today we went to the school for their July 25th program. How fun to watch the children in traditional costumes sing and dance in celebration of independence. Many of the parents were there too and seemed appreciative that the Gringos (not a word of disrespect, just fact) were there with them. They school cook fixed us a traditional breakfast of rice & beans as a thank you for our work there. The parents all brought food to sell and raise money for the school. We were amazed by both these acts of kindness and charity since these are people who by almost any standard have nothing. I cannot help but remember the Apostle Paul commended Christians who gave to those in need out of their own poverty. Let's learn from this and not hold on so tightly to "our stuff".
We finished painting a 2nd large wall that we started earlier in the week and the ladies spent time doing some fun bead work with the kids. Our friend Tito helped too and he finally began to feel comfortable enough with us to start trying his English. What a blessing to see this kid strive to grow as a person and Christ-follower. We had a great time with him all day.
In the afternoon, the ladies headed off to the women's rehab center and then men went with Tito and Luis to the area of the village where men got to use crack. What a place of darkness we encountered! We prayed right there in the middle of this place that the Light of Christ would shine brightly and that the bondage of drugs would be broken -- especially in the lives of the little kids we saw earlier in the day -- this generational sin must be broken! Along the way we met up again with Elwin (now we learn it's actually Edwin). Through Luis' interpretation and Tito's strong ability to share openly with him, we believe that Edwin may yet give his life to Christ. Here is this 21 year old guy standing in the middle of the street crying and telling us how dirty and sinful he feels because of drugs yet knowing that he wants to be free. He is seeing Christ pursue him in a way he never has and that is rocking his world! His commitment, at least today is to got to rehab on Monday. Pray for him that this will happen. He is fearful that he will do crack again since he lives in the streets and has no safe place to go. There are no options for shelter here like there can be in the States.
The ladies took time to head into the village again stopping at homes to pray with people and share Christ's love. Everyone back home should be proud of the way they have overcome the fears from a few days ago and really stepped right back into ministry.
In the late afternoon, the guys headed off to meet a man whose "home" is under the big bridge near here -- not just under -- literally his roof IS the bridge! He is an elderly man who has lived there for 8 years. He believes completely that ALL he needs he finds in Jesus. O that we would have this kind of faith when we face a stuff time, let alone when we might live under a bridge with no running water, oil and car fumes filling the building. We are sure that the food we took to him is much appreciated and needed. As we prayed for him we were confident that we had met a saint of the Most High God.
Tonight, we'll spend time at a local restaurant together and enjoy retelling stories of God's grace and love and the amazing power of the spirit we have seen this week.
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