7.17.2010

Caraballo (Friday)

On friday, we were again slowed a bit by rain. The river was full, and only the van could cross (we have a Van and a pickup that transport us around). Once on the sight, we finished up many of our projects, and got to work mixing more concrete.

 Students on friday are only at the school for 2.5 hours. Many of them won't eat for the entire weekend, so the school created a short day on fridays, so they could at least give the students one meal. They come at 10, play games until 12, and then eat a huge lunch together and go home.

Around 11, our adult leaders took most of the work, so the students could have one last chance to play with the kids. The students also got to eat lunch with them. It was cool to see.

Meanwhile, the adult leaders were able to help the Haitian workers finish a second concrete floor. They are expanding their kitchen, and the new floors will be used for additionally cooking space.

After lunch, we gave the kids snack bags as they left for the weekend. It was hard to see them go.

Alberto, the director of the school, got very emotional as he thanked us for coming. He told us that when he had heard that a team of middle school students was coming, he was worried that we would not be able to do the hard work. But on the first day we surprised him so much, that he struggled to keep us busy with enough jobs. All week long, he said, we kept demanding more work from him! He was moved that our students could work so hard, even being so young. The Lord, gives the strength.

After this, we spent some time in the market across from the school, and then went back to our house. After dinner, we made the decision to go to the beach for our final group session, even though it looked like rain.

On the way there it rained on and off. When we got there, it held off long enough to sing a few songs, then the rain came hard and we took shelter in a beach restaurant that was owned by a Dominican Christian.

Our team shared a lot about what God has showed them on the trip.

We finished the time together by looking at Luke 8 together, and particularly the parable of the soils. I challenged the team, not to let the weeds grow up around what they had learned this week.

2 comments:

Kathy Matthews said...

It's exciting to see answers to prayer--strength to do the work! May the Lord use this time in a mighty way in all the lives involved! We're praying for the trip home, too! Kathy

Jana Hanagan said...

I got chills and tears, reading how hard it was to let the kids go, after giving them their snack bags. And, I wasn't even there! We're anxiously awaiting your return, and that of Drew from Mark's high school group. We can't wait for the stories, and know to bring them back "home" slowly, as they process everything they've learned, experienced, and still feel from their trip.