On Monday, 4 families received new homes. Tuesday, was our second build day, and another four families saw their new homes get built!! Every family and every build day has it's own characteristics and this was no different. We are thankful for the smooth efficiency of the day, which allows us more time to connect with the people in the community and with each other. If laughter is a reliable metric then today was a success.
It is rare, in our experiences, to find very many husband-wife families. Too often we hear the sad stories of moms being left behind with their children. However in all 8 families so far, we have encountered a husband and wife together in each home. Some have been together for a short number of years, others have been together for decades.
More than this, one of the common threads of the four families today, was the intergenerational connections at each home. Three of the four homes were younger couples with small children. However, they all had a close relationship with their parents. There was respect, there was mutual care and there was the evidence of honour for the older generation. The fourth couple were older, having been together over 40 years. The wife's health is failing (she likely has some form of degenerative muscular disease). Her husband cares for her, and has for many years. He has been unable to find consistent employment because he chooses to be available to care for his wife. Though they don't appear to have relationship or connection with their children. Sadly, they don't know where they are, which also means their children have neglected to connect and care for them. However, in this absence, and with their need, they speak highly of how their community shares in checking in on them, and taking care of them!
There are always reminders of hard things that exist in this or any community: like the constant threat of women (particularly women who live alone) being victimized, or the reality of having your stuff taken. In fact many of our families sleep outside to protect their building materials until their house is built.
Oh, we also had a visit from the three police men and an armed military officer. No, we didn't do anything wrong, nor was there anything unsafe happening around us. In our conversation they shared, how they heard that we were working in the area and wanted to come by as a means of community service. They asked how we felt when they showed up, and we replied, that we always feel safe in our communities, in part because of the good work that they do, so when they show up and present themselves like this it further reinforces that sense of safety. They were delighted to hear more of our work, and the change that we see as a result, in the lives of people and in whole communities.
All in all, it was another well spent day. Despite the heat of the hot sun in a cloudless sky, these families gave us a beautiful picture, a picture that reflects the heart of God, a tangible demonstration of a love for God that is revealed in a love for our neighbour.
