Wears Like a Pig's Nose

There was a lot of dust flying around today as we handed out the keys to the families of the houses we built for. A lot of people couldn’t stop wiping their eyes, well okay… it may have not been from the dust. We worked shoulder to shoulder all week with a lot of people who received a house. This made it even more exciting for me to see them accept their new house because I had developed a bond with them. Even though we can’t even understand each other when we speak without a translator present, it is remarkable the connections we still made.

Earlier in the week, I forget how the conversation went exactly, but somewhere in it Paul said the phrase, “wears like a pigs nose”. All week we had been laughing and joking about it and then today while we were walking down the street in the community and we saw some pigs chilling at the side of the road sleeping. So of course I made sure to inspect their noses. I must say, those noses—perfect. After all the mud and dirt and whatever else a pig’s nose goes through, it was not the least bit worn. 

My prayer as we are getting ready to depart this country is that the houses we built this week will wear like a pigs nose and will continue to provide a safe place and shelter for the families. In addition, that these families faith and trust in God will wear like a pigs nose and no matter what dirt and mud life throws at them, they will remain firm in their faith. 

It’s a pretty cool experience being God’s hands and feet. It’s pretty neat seeing God work through our team this week. It’s pretty awesome watching God work. 

Silas

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!