The Cercadillo Project

If you were to see these professional, office-type guys in their normal daily environments in the Washington, DC area, you would never envision them this dirty and sweaty.  And they would probably add that they could never envision themselves this sore and tired.

The guys finished preparing all the panels and trusses in the first two very-full days of work.  For this accomplishment we “rewarded” them with the “opportunity” to do preparatory work for the cement floor that will probably be completed within the next few weeks.   They were digging through coral, which made the work extremely difficult.

And then it was Tuesday . . . the day TIME Ministries participants look forward to . . . the day to connect all the pieces.

By late afternoon, the last screw was put in place and Building # 3 was completed.

Just as the construction was finishing a huge thunderstorm arrived.  We had to scream to hear each other above the noise of the rain on the tin roof.  David, one of our Cercadillo friends who helped with the construction said, “Rain means God is showing His pleasure.  A storm likes this must mean that He is very pleased with what we have done today and will continue pouring out His blessings on this community.”

 May it be so.

I can’t begin to appropriately express my thanks to the six men who have worked so hard these days and to all those who supported them in making this new building a reality for us.  They did much more than construct a building.  They built relationships.

Gateway Church, they represented you well.

A building . . .

Yesterday staff from TIME Ministries and men from the village began working on the foundation for our third building!  Today six men from Gateway Community Church in Northern Virginia will be arriving to build the wall and roof panels.  The current plan is for the building to be completed by next Tuesday evening.

And some Bibles . . .

Children from First Baptist Church in Kahoka, MO sent money for my children in Cercadillo to have Bibles.  We use an easy-to-read, modern language version and have been waiting a long time for the Bibles to be restocked at our local supplier.

(Yimelki has toothpaste in her hand because it was also our monthly toothpaste distribution time.  The children do not usually come to church with a tube. :))

If you’ve been to Cercadillo you have probably met these two girls, Rosalinda and Gloneili.  They have been part of the core group since the very beginning.  Oh my goodness they were difficult when I first met them!  This was probably due to a combination of my lack of Spanish skills and the lack of consistent rules in their environment.   We have ALL changed dramatically since those early days!

Let me just go ahead and publicly admit that every time I look at this picture I get teary-eyed.  (I think it’s the rollers in Gloneili’s hair that does it.) My little girls are growing up!  Where have the years gone?  A part of me wants to push a pause button to keep them just like this – 11 and 12 years old, genuinely smiling, proudly holding their first Bible.  And yet another part of me looks forward with great excitement for what is ahead for these two.   Oh my, I’m beginning to sound like a parent, aren’t I?

Thanks again to the children of First Baptist of Kahoka, MO for the Bibles and to each of you who partners with me in this adventure through your giving and faithful praying. What a privilege, what a privilege,  it is to be here!