Day 10

It was like magic!

When I got to Hilda Perez's "house" this morning, all that it consisted of was a cinder block foundation and a floor... nothing else. Well, as the saying goes, what a difference a day makes!

This evening, when made the final delivery to Hilda's house, all of the exterior walls were nailed into place, and the ceiling trusses were being lifted up on top of the house. The 20 or so workers at the home were working with incredible teamwork. Everyone seemed to have a job, and everyone seemed to know what they were doing. It was truly a masterpiece of cooperation!

At the other site in Progreso -- affectionately known as "the bird house" -- work was equally astonishing. Aside from the fact that Troy fell off of the roof, and that I stepped completely through the floor of the second story balcony, and that everyone on the job seemed to need a band-aid, the construction was going along very smoothly.

To be completely honest, I have never seen anything so disgusting in my life, though. An entire flock of pigeons has roosted and is building nests in the ceiling of the second story. It is not an exaggeration to say that you can smell the home long before you can see the home. So, the first job was to clean out all the pigeon droppings from the attic. What a disgusting job! As the sweepers donned breathing masks and began to sweep the droppings from the attic out onto the ground below, it looked like an avalanche pouring from the second story. What was most disgusting to me, though, was the two complete pigeon skeletons that the crew swept from the attic. yuck! But, by the afternoon, doors were being hung, and things were definitely looking up!

After the work was complete, we invited the lead volunteers over to our condominium for dinner. I barbecued brisket and sausage, Brandie made beans and potato salad, others brought bread, drinks, and dessert. We had a wonderful time of unwinding from the busyness of the day. As the evening drew to a close, we all stopped and prayed that what God has begun will continue throughout the week. We prayed against the evil that wants this work to cease. We came together and supported one another in the Lord. And we all left refreshed!

I can't wait to see what God does on Tuesday!

Grace and Peace,
Ken and Brandie