Exploration of Purpose

So here I sit in Paul and Susan’s house watching the ‘mist of death’ roll through the property of the children’s home thinking about how I can best explain the work that we are doing here. Sure I can share more pictures (which, I assure you, I will be doing right after this entry) but that doesn’t really demonstrate the impact that this trip is having on our lives and on the lives of those we are working with. Sometimes seeds of self doubt creep in and we can begin to ask ourselves if this journey was really worth it. It is a blessing, I think, to have God gently remind us that it is, indeed, worth it. Yesterday Hannah, Alicia and I sat with Susan and we started talking about the impact the teams have on the ministry here. One thing stuck out and I thought I would share it with you. One of the ways that the funds we raise are used is to employ two local workers to labor alongside us and complete the various tasks that need to be done around San Lorenzo, Pacoche and the children’s home. The money that is given provides steady employment for these two men, Pablo and Flores, while the teams are here and for some time afterwards. Last year there was only two months that there was a lack of finances to employ them. These men work to provide for their families which, all together, number ten people. So in just this one small but profound way we are able to impact these families who would otherwise struggle to find employment. Thank you to everyone for their love, prayers and support. It is awesome for us to find out the ways in which God uses teams like ours to provide for the physical needs of the people we have come to serve. In meeting their physical needs there is then the opportunity for those here to provide for the spiritual needs. There are so many other stories like that one, so many ways, seen and unseen, that God has been using us and other teams. It is exciting to be a part of something like this even when, at times, we feel as if we are not accomplishing much. In times like these we must trust that God has a plan for us even when we can’t see it. There is comfort in that.

So with that said let me share some of the pictures from the last few days. There are not that many but the ones that I have chosen should hopefully demonstrate to you why we have labeled the weather here at the home, “the mist of death”. I have heard that many of you in Canada have been enjoying quite nice, sunny days. It is...ummm...less than that here. So far we have seen the sun three times. It is cold, wet and muddy. But you know, weather like this makes for some good pictures and, as my parent’s would say, it builds character. We will have lots when we come home. And in the end, though there are difficult days, we are having a blast here.

Let me Introduce you to the Mist of Death



Here we see Jeff and Joshua working hard laying bricks for the retaining walls. A necessary project in order to stop erosion from washing away the hills that the Childrens Home is sitting on. As you can see it is very wet and very muddy. These guys were troopers working out in this all day. Out here the mist hangs over the home for around 3 months. This is part of the reason the jungle that surrounds us is so vibrant and lush.

The Aftermath



The boys at the end of the day joined by Pablo. As you can see they were less than dry. I believe, when we returned home to San Lorenzo, they all just ran into the ocean fully clothed humming the Star Wars theme song. Good times.

Michelangelo has Nothing on this Guy



Some of us worked inside and were, for the most part, able to avoid “the mist of death”. Here David, along with me behind the camera, spent the day painting one of the boys rooms as well as the kitchen.

The Day After



The next day, after finishing up at the home, we traveled to Pacoche to complete some more work projects and prepare for the kids club. Here David demonstrates his incredible skill at cutting bricks with his trowel. Six of us spent the day building three separate walls in the church. Some may disagree but Hannah and I were very efficient and effective wall builders.

The Chain



Unloading bricks at the church in Pacoche in preparation for the wall building epicness.


Team Work



Everybody getting involved in building the first wall. In the foreground Alica sits soaking the bricks in water. This helps the cement adhere to them when we lay the lines of the wall.

Christian and Luis



My brother and Luis, one of the kids we met two years ago, sitting listening to the story presentation at the kids club.

The Kids Club



The awesome ministry to the children at Pacoche. This club was started just over a year ago and there have been some incredible things come out of it at the church strives to reach out to the local community. It has been a blessing to be able to help out where we can with this ministry.

Music Team



David, Lili, Joshua, Jeff and Hannah have been a real blessing as we have sought to minister in different areas providing musical ministry sometimes with little or no preparation or warning. Here they lead the singing time, in Spanish, at the kids club.

God Bless Everyone...