Staying Busy - November 12, 2008

I had the pleasure of helping with a 'campamiento' (church camp) for 25+ children of the Nuevo Pacto church the weekend of October 31st - November 2nd. The children arrived at the compound on Friday evening around 7:00 p.m. and didn't leave until time for church on Sunday morning. We played games outside (similar to tag, Red Rover, and others) and the children rehearsed and performed dramas based upon bible stories. They also had devotional/bible study times and made craft projects. Although I spent 16 hours in bed with the worst migraine I've ever had on that Saturday, the weekend was great fun! I made 7 bags of microwave popcorn for a snack for the kids and shared some excellent chocolates with them too! It's awesome because now every Sunday morning and Tuesday evening at church - since that weekend - I get lots of hugs and smiles from my new little friends!

Last weekend, we had a team of 46 adults and youth here from Stonebridge United Methodist Church in McKinney. We built four homes in just two days. Three of the homes were for an extended family of four generations that attend our church here (Grandma, parents, an eighteen year old son, two other adult sons, their wives, and their babies - 10 months and 4 months). The fourth home was built to provide an additional room for the family of 13 that was blessed with a cinder block home by the RockPointe Church team just a few weeks ago.

Erika, my white canine friend, was very sick for the past week or so. She was very lethargic, had fever, and looked very sick! I was extremely worried about her. My friend, Juana drove us to the vet so that I could have Erika examined. The vet said that he thought she had a bacterial infection, but that he couldn't rule out distemper. He said that if it was just an infection, the medication he provided should cause her to improve within a day or two. The vet gave Erika an injection of two medications (one antibiotic and one to reduce her high fever). He also gave me five syringes and a bottle of antibiotics to give her an injection each day for five days. She received her final injection last night and she seems like a new dog! I am so thankful that I was able to get her to the vet and get medicine for her (and for the low, low price of $19.76 total - for everything!!). There is definitely a cultural difference in the way we Americans treat our animals - to us, they are pets and part of our families. To the people here, they are just dogs.

We have a very busy weekend coming up! 98 men from Houston will arrive tomorrow afternoon and will build nine homes in two days. I will help in the kitchen, cooking and serving meals. It will be hectic and loud, but what a blessing it will be for nine families to receive a cinder block home! I will be traveling back to Allen later this month to spend the holidays at home with my children. I look forward to seeing family and friends during my favorite time of the year!

I continue to feel truly blessed to be a part of the wonderful ministry of Proyecto Abrigo.

Until next time, Dios te bendiga!