Divertido Y Trabajo (Fun and Work)

Hello friends. It's Erika, checking in.

Today was our first day at the mission. We started out the day at the Panajachel fire station. Breakfast was served to us there. Then we drove to the mission building and Tom Heaton gave us the tour.

Renna Howell swarmed by happy preschoolers

We then had an opportunity to play with the preschool children there. They were very energetic and affectionate. It was a treat to watch how everyone was enraptured by the children. I, myself, have a low tolerance for young ones; even so, I was blessed through this encounter. To see their smiling faces and watch my team members enjoy themselves was what affected me most. I can say that this was the highlight of the day for several members of the team.

We finished with the children and went to do our work. Most went to a school to construct an office room for the staff there. Four went with David to install a stove in the home of a family who needed it. I was part of the group who went to the school. We mixed cement and started to place the cinderblocks for the walls. Megan, Marie, and I started by sifting some sand for the mixture. It was fun coming up with a rhythm and working with one another. By the end of the day we were all working on the wall in some way. It was rewarding, for me, to see how our work has progressed.

Jill Wilson, Brad Andries, Laura Espinoza and Jo Flynn
installed their high efficiency wood burning stove.

As for the quartet who installed the stove, they seemed to have had an experience that affected them. Brad said at dinner that the reaction from the family was what got to him. After they had finished the family gave each person a soda to drink. For them it must have been a sacrifice. It was a touching, personal encounter.

With many more moments like these ahead, I pray:
Lord, you are our guiding light. Help us to trust in your way, and grant us the peace that comes to those who follow the paths you have laid out for them. Bless the work of our hands this week, and the outpour of our hearts.
       Amen