Project H.O.P.E.

Well, finally an update! I'm sitting here at the cyber (internet cafe) right now, waiting as all my pictures load into a slideshow to add to this blog. Hopefully the loading process will go smoothly and I will be able to add the pictures today with no problems! So, June 8th through the 11th I had the pleasure of once again working with Project H.O.P.E. to help build homes in a nearby community. During the week they also had a medical clinic, a hair salon, a Women's Bible Study time, and a Children's time. I never made it to the Women's Bible Study, but made it to each of the others to take pictures and see how things were going. At the clinic Dr. Ted would see the patients that had more "serious cases" while others with more minor issues saw a nurse that was also on the trip. The would prescribe medicines and give them to the patients. This was a huge deal, the medicine was free, and so was the "visit" to the doctor. I know that during the week Dr. Ted saw many people and helped many people as well. At the hair salon children and adults could come and have their hair cut, shaved, or briaded free of charge. There were two ladies on the trip that are hair sytlist back in the states, their names were Dana and Courtney. It was funny watching some of the boys get their heads shaved...they looked pretty sad that their hair was getting cut off! I did have the pleasure of helping with the Children's Bible time two of the days. One day I was observed and took some pictures, and eventually ended up feeding a baby and playing with him while his older brother (who had been taking care of him) did the craft project. I had a blast playing with the little guy. He was so cute! The next time I was there, I helped my friend Byron lead a song with actions in Spanish. Then later the kids were split into groups to do the craft activity, and I was given a group to help. They were given a piece of paper with two Bible verses on it, and were supposed to decorate the paper with stickers that had been given to them. After they were all very proud to show me their papers and how they had arranged their stickers. It was tons of fun, and I was able to practice my spanish even more. We also cleaned up our mess...instead of throwing our empty sticker pages on the ground I explained that we needed to keep the area clean and when they were all finished to give their trash to me. It was funny...kids from the other groups saw my kids handing me their trash, so other kids began bringing me their trash as well! We had a great time, laughing, making designs with stickers, and talking! The rest of my time was spent working. When we arrived to the worksite in the mornings we would open with a group Bible time. Ted Burden (my former youth minister) would lead a short morning devotional along with some worship time. Then we would split into smaller groups and discuss the morning devotional more in depth. Pray with the families that were in the group then go to work! I was given the assignment of "nail crew." My job was to hammer nails into the post of the home. I was on a team with 3 other ladies. So the first day and a half we spent our time hammering nails. (They put nails in the post to make the homes stronger. When they pour the cement into the holes, the cement grabs onto the nails, maker a stronger wall.) We finished one road of houses and asked what to do next. We were given the instruction to find another crew and join them. On day two, in the afternoon after lunch I joined a "block crew" which was responsible for building the walls...laying the blocks, pouring cement, etc. I was with this crew for day 3 and day 4 as well. I enjoyed my time doing this as well. I did a lot of bending over and standing up. One of the task is to put dirt, or rocks into the two holes of the cement blocks (this also helps make the house stronger)....this ended up being my job (along with a few others) most the time. I also was able to spend my time talking with the Nica's that we were working with. On the block team I was able to get to know two of the teenage boys, their names were Elbing and Brian. We enjoyed talking with each other and learning more about each other. Plus, it gave me more opportunities to practice my Spanish! It was interesting for me...this was the first trip I was on that I was able to really communicate with the Nica's I was working with. It was a new experience for me, and one I had wanted for a very long time. Each trip I've been on, I have always enjoyed, but always wished I could speak more with the people and not need a translator there every min. This time I was finally able to do that. I even had some of the Amerian's on the team asking me to come and help them translate. It was a unique to say the least. Fortunatley, I didn't always know everything that was being said, but understood enough that I could pass the message along. When I was working with the block team, Brian and Elbing would look to me every time someone would speak to them and they didn't understand. I would explain to them the best I could what the person had said. Thankfully, we understood each other each time. Also during the week, they had a shoe store. Each of the families that were receiving a new home was able to go to the shoe store and pick out a pair of shoes for each member of the family. I did not personally "work" the shoe store, but stopped by to see what was going on and take some pictures. It was so fun to watch not only the kids, but the adults as well, pick out a pair of shoes for themselves. Lots of smiles on lots of faces during the week. As always, it touched my heart in ways no one can understand unless they are there and go through it too. The most meaningful thing to me during the week took palce Thursday morning. Thursday morning each of the families were given bags of food. Rice, beans, sugar, etc... We were in our small groups when they brought these to the families. One of the men from our small group stood up to speak to us. As he tried to speak tears began to flow from his eyes. He couldn't find the words to say what he wanted to say, the only thing he could do was come to each of us (the American's) and offer us the biggest hug he could give. With tears streaming down his face, he hugged each of us and thanked us for the gifts we had given him and his family. I of course, had tears flowing from my eyes as well...along with all the other American's in our small group. It is when something like this happens you realize how much of a difference you can make in someone elses life, just by donating your time and energy...and if you can't do that...by donating your money to organizations like Project H.O.P.E. that offer God's love and Hope to so many people.