Wednesday... by Tammy

I am happy to report we have been yet again free of rain! Dry conditions help everything at the work site flow so much easier. We split into two groups today, my group stayed at the top of the hill to hand mix (the mixer is broken), shovel, and pour cement.

Sand was shovelled into a circle, topped with powder cement, and then shaped into a pool where the water was poured in and then mixed with a pick-axe. It was a tricky business for the worker to keep building up the sides so that the water didn’t escape and flow everywhere. This was done by a Haitian resident of Los Algodones, who worked very hard all morning with us. Me (Tammy), Esther, Dan, Jackie, and Lorette shovelled wet cement into two wheelbarrows, pushed by Dale and Aime, who then poured it into the trench we dug the other day behind the school, and then smoothed out by Rene and Henry.

I enjoyed speaking with our Haitian co-worker, he spoke French and I was happy that I could sometimes understand him. I am also happy that I am picking up more Spanish every day!
The sun was very hot, the work hard, and the morning long! Lunch was pre-packed by the Hotel and we ate it in a house reserved for storage, workers and volunteers.

THEN, we packed up and headed over to Chi-chigua for the juice ministry. It is a small community ‘around the corner’ from Villa Esperenza. By foot it is apparently not far, but by bus we needed to go down and around the hill. We were joined on the bus by two men walking down the road to the village, and they shared a couple coconuts with us, chopping it while on route (with a machete out the back- we were afraid for his fingers! The road is so bumpy!) We all took a taste, I thought it was really good.

In the village Chi-chigua we gathered in the small church (the only building not made of scraps of metal), and sang songs. The front four rows were all school children, the youngest and loudest in the front row. The church was full, with ages ranging from older adult to infant. The energy and enthusiasm was awesome. Added to the fun were tambourines, ribs??, drums, and I added in some wooden clacking spoons. It was great fun!

We played games with the children, two rounds of musical chairs, and the kids had a great time getting us unseated right off the bat.

We preformed a drime (drama/mime) about the healing power of accepting Jesus in your life, and I read my testimony (translated by Isachar), followed by the juice ministry.

The Juice Ministry is a snack/meal, provided to all in attendance. Everyone was happy to receive the gifts offered, and afterwards we heard balloons popping for the rest of our stay as the children enjoyed their balloons!

Chi-chigua is a small village, similar in construction to Los Algodones in that it consists of metal shacks. There is unreliable electricity, no running water, no sewer. Rob and Tina arrange for water to be brought to the village so that the people don’t get ill. Rob has told us that there has been a great improvement in the health of the people since receiving clean water.

It is amazing to see in person the real changes that take place in these communities in response to the compassion demonstrated by those wanting to make a difference in people’s lives.
The school in Villa Esperenza (Los Algodones) is a great example of God working in people’s lives. The children and families who benefit from child sponsorship is far beyond just providing breakfast and notebooks. It will be amazing to see what they will accomplish once the school is fully sponsored.

We have been blessed to take part in new experiences and meeting wonderful people every day.

Love Tammy