Build Day #4

 It's incredibly humbling to when the tools are packed up for the last time on a trip. It means the building is done. More significantly, it means that every family that we met has received their new home. Today homes for the 11th and 12th family were completed. One of the benefits and hardships of the last build day is that by this point we have developed a relationship with the homeowners, as most of them participate in each other's building experience.  

Therefore, when we come to the interview time, we have a greater ease for our discussions. This is a benefit. The hardship is that it also means that we get to hear about some of the tougher experiences of their lives. They trust us with this information, because they believe us when we say we want to continually ask God to care for them.  It's also a hardship because we know that we have to leave soon, and they understand that as well.  When we come, in the name of Jesus, He allows us to  bring the benefits and hardships together with the knowledge that He will use both with a redeeming purpose in their lives and in ours. 

After another sun-steamed luncheon of peanut butter and jam sandwiches, we headed off to visit the fabrication shop.  It's where all the pieces of the homes get cut, welded together, and painted.  We were given an enthusiastic and thorough tour and presentation from Diego, the manager of the shop.  Paul Babcock (a fabricator by trade) was able to interact with them and give them some great encouragement.  While they thanked us for our commitment and contribution to the building of homes, we also reminded them, that without their diligent, daily effort and skill, none of what we do would be possible.  God uses us all in this process that reflects His Kingdom desires: bringing people together in the hope of Jesus Christ. 

While families always take pictures with us in front of their finished homes, our part is small. So we took a picture with the fabricators, because they deserve a lot of credit as well.  We committed to sharing their story so that you who read will also pray for them as they work and that God will continue to provide funds for their work. 

We ended the afternoon with a captivating drive past the volcano, along the familiar highway of years gone by, and turned to take a short boat ride on a lagoon set in the midst of the mountains.  It's a beautiful country and we are thankful for the chance to enjoy it and be blessed by the people we meet here. 

Tomorrow is the key ceremony day! It's a day of celebration and a little sadness, for all the reasons mentioned above.  May the Lord enable us to finish well and as Scott reminded us, may the memories that we have made not be easily taken from our hearts and mind. 

Thanks for sharing in this with us!