Time to go, and we are all so happy to have accomplished the tasks that we set out to do. We had a final PID meeting with all of the OSLC team, Nurses that traveled with us, Norm who made water filtration systems, Gale Hull, and Abby, the Director here. We shared highlights of the week, and said some goodbyes, and shared email address so we can upload all of our photos together. It's amazing that in 1 week, we made so made friends! We had to say goodbye to the kids at the site that we had soon much fun with, and that were AMAZING helpers and workers.
We are leaving at 5:45am to drive to the airport and will arrive on Boston at 10:55 Tuesday night. So pray for our travels, as well as safe arrival for our India team.
See you soon!
2012 OSLC Guatemala Mission
Monday, June 25, 2012
Wrap it up - Brian
Cute kids at the worksite
There is a list of kids you can sponsor for $30/mo on the PID website. 100% of the money goes to the child, you can read their story on the site, write to them when you sponsor, they can write back, send Christmas money for a present and more. Please consider adopting one of these cute kids.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Antigua - a much needed day off - Brian
We all worked half a day yesterday, and had today off. We really need it to recharge, and just relax. The work here is as hard or even harder than Haiti, due to the distance we need to move our materials. The first work day starts by working for 45 min, and taking a 10 min break, and by Friday, you work for 10 and take a 45 min break.
Today we went to church in San Antonio and enjoyed a Spanish service in a very busy square. Sandy printed the Missal, so we could somewhat follow along. From church, we took a 2 1/2 ride to Antigua where there are blocks and blocks of stores, vendors, restaurants and street entertainment. No outlet stores, but if you shop, plenty to see, but be ready to negotiate! We had a great lunch there as well and were able to sit all 12 of us together.
One more day to go! There are mixed emotions about leaving...some want to go home (me!) and others wish they could stay. There is plenty of work to do in this country, but still, it is far more developed than Haiti in alot of ways, such as government, infrastructure, commerce etc. All the same, poor people are poor, and they don't benefit from most of that. You cannot tell the difference from a village in Haiti to one here, these people live as simply as you can ever imagine, yet a cross section of their faith is stronger than you will find in the U.S.
Well, we are preparing to start I our bible study now, so we will be continuing to pray for our families, and all of you.
Blessings,
Brian
Saturday, June 23, 2012
At the Myan ruins
OK, the prayer card shows Myan ruins, but it was photoshopped in. This is the real thing!
Work site - Gary
Friday, June 22, 2012
Construction Ministry - Dan
Thursday, June 21, 2012
The hardest ditch we ever dug
From my 2 trips to Haiti, I estimated that two guys could dig this 3' deep by 18" wide 18' long, in about 2 hours. However, this soil is very dense, like clay...it took 5 of us all afternoon. We moved a pile of rocks over a small muddy stream, and to the site, about 100 yards as well. Very hard work, but The Lord kept us strong and diligent! Tonight, it is raining hard...what's will we find in the morning?
Evan
God is great! - Brian
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Safely in Guatemala - Brian
It is very important for us to let you know, and our families, that we are all well, and working hard. Today, we took a 'Chicken Bus' (how fun does that sound!) to the Clinic. Its a Guatemalan 'Tap Tap' for those of you that have been to Haiti or remember. Basically, a colorful schools that acts as a taxi.
Sandy is working in the clinic organizing all of the supplies we brought. The clinic is busy today with a lot of people to be seen.
Bob and Gary are putting up shelves, fixing screens and doing some handyman work at the clinic.
Dan and Anthony (we are lucky to have Anthony who came to us through PID, and speaks Spanish!) are moving sand and dirt with wheelbarrows.
Evan and I dugout a foundation, in the mud, for a bathroom.
I think we will all be working on the bathroom that is attached to a fairly new PID house.
While we are working, we are reading and contemplating notecards that Bob gave us with John 13:34. It really is a great idea to remind us why we are here, and how much God loves these people.
Please pray for our continued strength, diligence in our work, team spirit and to show the love of Jesus as HE would want us to, saying the right words, and acting in a way that glorifies Him. I don't know if this will be the last blog entry or not due to the difficult internet, power outages etc, so please also pray that we can connect to the internet, and update the blog. It is just as important for goers to connect back home as it is for our senders and prayers to read.
Blessings,
Brian and the team