Building Houses and Feeding Kids

Arriving at the site yesterday, there's already been a cement floor and support beams put in place. The rain starts as we begin to work.

Lord, please help the rain to stop so we can give this family a house that doesn't have a floor covered in mud.

The walls go up pretty fast - the guys went a little quicker than the girls since we didn't have to drill pilot holes before nailing them up - but whose counting?

Every little bit or so the sun peeks out as some of the girls play soccor with the kids, keeping them occupied and happy.

Everytime we see one of the women of the family, we smile and say "Buenos Dias" or "Hola!" They smile in return with very kind eyes. You wonder what must be going through their heads - and hope that they are really feeling loved.

The walls are up, we break for lunch and eat with the family. It's a great time of communion - just sharing food together.

The Lord answered prayer as the sun came out before the roof went up. Between that and the saw dust made from the cutting, the water on the cement floor was pretty well soaked up.

The bunk beds went up along with the door and the window, and then it was time to decorate it with some things we brought: stuffed animals, tons of shoes, food, umbrellas... and a lock. Candy lined the walls.

And then came the time to share it with the family. There were many smiles and the kids went wild when they saw all the toys and shoes and goodies.

As we were building, one of the girls in our group was sharing a psalm with the family, hoping that they make the connection that this is a gift to them from God. And the end of the translation, the woman replied, "The words of Jesu Cristo are beautiful."

I think they got it:)