July 2011 Mission trip Day Five:

Today is Stella’s birthday !!!!!

This is the first day it hasn’t rained. So we were asked to paint outside while we could. We got more done today than the last two days. The chapel is looking really good. It is starting to look like we might possibly get the majority of the painting done. Irwin supervises the other boys on the high parts while we paint up as far as we can reach. We did get them to stop thinning the paint so much that it ran all over the place - that helped a lot. Carlos Antonio Martinez follows us around just looking for some way to help. Carry water, get paint, hold a roller while we get on a chair to paint. By the way Tim spent several hours at the hardware store today - remember tranquilo - take a deep breath, calm down and relax! It took over twelve people from different departments to collect the needed supplies - four just to pay for the order. Everyone must check on the work of the others. One of the things he bought was a step ladder. Yea for Tim !!!!!

The men are attempting to complete 11 stoves. They have completed the majority of the mesas which is the base for the stove. They were excited today because the last one only took 1 hr to make. I guess they are getting the hang of it. They have been disappointed because they had expected more masons. They had one on Monday but they had three today. Elaine went with the men today to take pictures. She said she was sure glad she wasn’t doing that every day and doesn’t see how the men do it, it is so steep. She was glad to get back down off the hillside.

David and Dan both commented on how the small children will do anything to help and be a part of the party. David wants to take them all home. All except the one teenage boy who refused to come out of his house to help. They have teenage rebellion here too.

We stopped along the road today on the way home to take pictures of the sharp contrast of culture from one side of the road to the other. One side was beautiful homes all well kept and walled in. The other side was along a stream and was one squatters shanty after another. The were washing themselves, their clothes, and their dishes in this small dirty stream which I am sure also served other purposes as well.

We were all very tired so we just went to the food court at the mall for dinner. Then we came back to the Green Frog for evening prayer and a surprise birthday cake for Stella. She loved it. It was made by the daughter of the owner of the Inn. The cake was called a Tres Leches which means three milks, condensed milk, evaporated milk and regular milk. It is more like a very rich pudding cake and is very good. We all enjoyed it very much.

One small crisis. Tim dropped his camera and now it won’t work. He is very upset - it was his favorite camera and they don't make it any more.

We have only two days left so tomorrow we will work very hard. As Stella would say “God Willing”.

Blessings to you all, The Team