We had a good final day and we thank God for His blessings. However, I personally feel that the leader of this team didn’t do a very good job of making the last day one to remember and I have already spoken to him about that very matter! The team members maintained excellent attitudes and had a excellent spirit all week long and that is something to remember! I can say “thank you” to thirty-nine folks for being absolutely wonderful!
One team poured the cement in the fifteenth house while two other teams dedicated all fifteen houses to the glory of God. The dedication involved a time of sharing about Jesus, a prayer, the presentation of a gift bag, and many photos. This is an important part of the process and I appreciate Shari Compagner and Mark Mast for leading these dedications.
A fourth team went to Rios de Agua Viva Church and finished the painting which included the inside of the auditorium, the hallway in the bathroom area, the exterior front which included painting a new sign, and finishing the front of the parsonage. Those folks did an awesome job and the building looks brand new. Pastor Walter Aju was bursting with pride over the upgrade to the facilities.
A fifth team went to the seminary in the afternoon to finish painting the exterior of the gymnasium. This is where the story gets a bit interesting as this team consisted of Matt DeYoung, Don Ricci, and Ron Stenning. Gene Davis and I dropped them off around 2:30PM, went and purchased some more paint and brought it back to them, and I told them that we would be back as they had no transportation, no phone or phone numbers, and no real idea as to the way back to the mission house. They finished the paint job around 3:30 – 3:45PM. Fortunately, I did remember to have someone pick them up. Unfortunately, it was 6:00PM before I remembered meaning it was 6:30PM before the van got there to bring them back! Those three were so gracious in their attitudes – “blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape!” Thanks Don, Ron, & Matt for being so flexible and forgiving!
Tom Compagner and Mark Mast took about twenty of the team members to visit Amor del Nino (Love the Child) which is the children’s home run by Steve & Shyrel Osborn. They then stopped by Casa Aleluya which is the children’s home run by Mike & Dottie Clark. They seemed to enjoy these visits as they left at 1:30PM and didn’t get back until 7:30PM or so.
The evening was spent enjoying another delicious meal and having great fellowship with many guests and the fellow team members. I left the mission house around 10:30PM or so and the games were in full force so I would imagine Friday’s flights will see some folks catching up on some sleep!
Lord willing, there will be a final entry either Friday night or at some point on Saturday. I have a funeral to preach on Saturday morning so my initial time home will be spent ministering to the Betty McDonald family. I so appreciate Belvin and his understanding as he has waited until Saturday in order for me to be home for the service. Pray for the McDonald family. Pray for us as we board Continental (Alabama, Canada, Louisiana, & Texas) for a 1:25PM flight and the Michiganders plus Brad Bensinger (Troy) board Delta for a 1:58PM flight. Again, your prayers are so very important to us and we deeply appreciate them!