- Install more stoves in local homes to remove smoke (and smoke related ailments) from their kitchens. Results should be improved lungs, throats and eyes for the women that have to cook all day, everyday.
- Install a satellite dish and solar panels to support a cyber school in the village.
Trip starts off on a good note before we even leave! The actual cost of the equipment is only half of what the original estimate was! Hallelujah!
This year is going to have us in Guatemala in a faster time than any other year. We're there before noon! It's still too late to just go to Joconal right away, but we're still able to partake in a project in the city.
Every time we go to Guatemala, I completely fall in love with it. One of these times I might just stay for a long term missions (or I might just not leave. :)
There is an organization that builds houses for people cheap: About $3,000 each. We build a retaining wall for the front so as to keep the ground stable. Karina decides to take it upon herself to be a task-master and to "encourage" us with our work.
After that, we travel to check out Mynor (Armando's son and Karina's hermano) and his after-school
(A.D.D. Moment: In life we have struggles and they can be very challenging. Yet when we, through Christ who strengthens us, get over it and onto that mountain; it will be very much worth it as well.)
We get to the building and check out their school project they have. It is an after school program to reach these kids and to help keep them out of trouble.
Restaurant night out at a place with nachos bigger than our muy loco, gringo cabezas.
Tuesday:
When the next day starts, and we are on our 5-hour car trip to the mountains, we pick up other missionaries that are already there. There is Gabor (Pronounced Gaborrrrrrrrrrr), Candy and their two daughters. They seem to have that variety of energy and enthusiasm that is infectious, and I am immediately energized myself (beyond the energy I had from the awe of just being there and doing the Lord's work).
When we finally get there, we find that they now have a second floor on the farmhouse. Everyone really likes it! This is also the first year where we DON'T have a vehicle breakdown before getting to the farm! Muy bueno!
We do, as per usual, get straight to work by delivering the stove equipment to the first 3 houses and a few others start the chicken coops. The hill side is very steep and muddy and the work is arduous. Yet we manage it and somehow I don't exhaust myself.
Wednesday:
I actually wake up with enough time to eat a proper breakfast! Yay for coffee and eggs! And mosquito repellent!
We deliver the supplies for two more stoves and build a total of five stoves during the day. Moving at an encouragingly fast pace. Speaking of which; the two chicken coops are almost done (good job Greg, Michael and Gaborrrrr!)
Greg (and all of his impressive roof skills) gets to work on getting the solar panels installed and hooked up.
Our first
Kelly and Armando leave for Honduras to pick up the man who will install the satellite dish and connect this village to the rest of the world!
Thursday:
We construct four more stoves. Now, this isn't just building stoves, we are carrying the supplies along a dirt path (which is usually steep and/or muddy). Then we have to destroy the old "stove" which is actually just a clay table that is infested with ants and/or termites and/or roaches and/or large spiders. Constructing the stoves is like assembling a puzzle. Once we get the process down, it's easy.
We also take to staining the wood of the second floor against the rain. (and it does rain frequently).
I also assist Heather in the VBS duties. My little espanol that I know (as mal as it is) and pointing is enough and it seems the kids know to respect adults (even loco gringos).
Darwin (the Internet man) works on connecting us to the internet all day. Although the projected time as an hour to 3 hours, there are setbacks.
Friday:
Me, Cory, Armando and Paulino walk into a bean field to harvest ripe beans. I get eaten alive by bugs and both of my hands swell up. I am now limited in my abilities to do pretty much anything. Even the staining project is difficult. Every brush is painful and I feel like a bum for not being productive.
Meanwhile: Darwin is working on his last attempt at connecting the dish to the internet. If this does not work, he will have to return to Honduras (17 hours driving to his office) to research more. This is unacceptable. We get into a circle and immediately pray. As we are praying: THE DISH PICKS UP A SIGNAL! Seriously. This happens. Darwin watches the signal go from 0.8% to 13.0% and has no idea as to how it happened!
Saturday:
Armando and Paulino drive Darwin back to Honduras. During this trip, Armando asks Darwin what he thought of the prayer and the internet working. Darwin says he was amazed at see the Lord work and asks to pray. They pull over than Darwin accepts the Lord! Whilst on this journey, they have a series of events that are just amazing:
- A bridge is down and they have to ford the river in their truck following a lady across.
- They pick up a hitchhiker and along the way, there is a tree at an angle blocking the way. The man somehow lifts the tree high enough for the truck to pass!
Armando has quite the story to tell us when he returns. And this is pretty late at night.
Sunday:
As per usual: We have to push a vehicle out of a muddy ditch. Fun times. -.-
Also as per usual: The drive back includes throwing tennis balls at local children. Being in the back, I miss out.
Being tired I opt to stay at the house whilst the others go out and about at night. Cory and Kelly have a divine appointment with the owner of an Ice Cream Parlor.
Monday:
Air travel back to the states. Houston - Pittsburgh flight: Me and Cory share a row with a fellow from Texas who is a pastor that also has to have a second job. This job has him travel to PA. We get to talking and it instantly turns into a divine appointment. After exchanging information, we hope this can develop into something more.
This has been by far the most productive mission's trip I think we have had and no one got sick!
"I love it when a plan comes together!" - Hannibal Smith, A-Team
