I slept very well that night. Then Miranda and I woke up at 5:50, got ready, and went for a run - four laps around the compound, and then a cool-down walk. I can't believe I actually went on a run voluntarily! We could definitely feel the lack of oxygen.
Breakfast was as usual here - whatever you want that we have! Miranda, Ryan and I made toast and helped get yogurt and stuff out. I burned my hand on the toaster oven (not a bad one, it didn't hurt like at all after).
We stopped at Gethsemani so that we could pick up our guide to our work site (Oscar). We headed closer and closer...and finally stopped at that same spot on that little road in that cute little town. We walked through that metal door and down that wonderfully familiar and beautiful path that we once chased giggling children on, laughing. Yes, the same work site as last year! Sadly, we were there in the morning before the kids were back from school, but at least Juan was there! Kyle, Miranda and I were practically jumping up and down in excitement. And that foundation we laid last year? It's now a fully built school room(s), and with an added porch-walk in front. It was so beautiful and exciting to see our work added to and built upon to create something so special. And the main school room where we mixed cement and hung out with kids was a mess, completely full of a mid-layer scaffolding so that Juan and his helper could fix up the ceiling with the beautiful designs and patters that they do by hand. The yard, too, was basically all dirt.
Ryan asked who wanted to paint and he got them started - they painted the bathrooms blue and the metal doors red. Those of us who were left was a fun group: me, Kyle, Miranda, Ryan, Matthew, and Colin. We were inside the little school room (that we laid the foundation for) and the porch walk way and the guys hoed and picked and broke up the dirt and Miranda and I shoveled it into a wheelbarrow that would get emptied into a pile in the yard until the floor was about three inches lower, so that they could lay the floor for it. We came across many soda bottle caps, and Miranda would say, "Ryan, I found one of your soda bottle caps from last year" and he'd be like, "You can't prove it!" ;) It was actually a lot of fun and pretty easy, especially with the fun group we had.
We were there until about 12, and before we left we got a picture of me, Miranda, Kyle and Ryan with Juan in front of where we worked twice. Before we left Juan told Miranda that he is so grateful that we did all that digging because him doing it himself would take forever and that we did work for him and for God because it was such a blessing. Aww! Also, when Miranda asked him about his knee, he said he never had to go to the doctor's to get it checked out because God healed him! On Sunday he also said that when we prayed over his knee last year, he felt fire in his leg and his knee was healed. Praise God!
We returned to the compound for lunch and got a quick shower before we left for Gethsemani at 2:15. We picked up our translator, a fun lady named Karen, and another teacher, who brought on board two massive pinatas - one was the green monster from Monster's Inc. and the other was a minion. We drove and drove, and it was looking really familiar...we ended up at another place we had been before - the small Catholic school up on a hill. Even from down on the street we could hear them playing music, and they were really good! Anyway, up the hill and into the school...and we had quite a surprise - the had a second level and a roof!! It was very different in there with a roof. The little kids (they were not the older ages that were there last time) came up to all of us right away. I was carrying the bag of eighth plastic balls that we bought them, and they kept coming over towards me and looking at them. *(Funny note - Ryan was wearing the same shirt he did the last time we were at that school!)*
For the ministry part, Brian and his group did their "evangecubes" and then Hannah shared her testimony. After a prayer, then, we did the pinatas. Those kids whacked it with all of their might, and they mobbed the pinata when the first pieces of candy started falling, and the look on their faces....it was all just awesome. Chaos, but amazing all the same. Then we threw out the balls to them and they were having a blast. Several of the girls crowded around Miranda and literally petted her hair! We barely got out of that place, because the kids didn't want us to leave.
We stopped at Pollo Campero for supper. At least we didn't have to worry about anyone getting sick on Flan, because Miranda specifically told the waitress NO FLAN! It was a fun time over supper, at least in our group of young people.
We got back to the compound around 6:30 and while Ryan and Miranda went to talk to Jodi, we hung out in the blue room and Kyle played our 21 Pilots songs (House of Gold, Stressed Out, Migraine, Car Radio, Doubt, and Kitchen Sink). When they returned we went over the rest of the week's plan better than the night before, we did a worship song and then Miranda and I asked if we could do more worship so we stayed for that. Basically, it was just our group and Derek and Colin. It was totally what we all needed, though. It was a good night.
Also, for fun, Miranda and I worked out new lyrics to the chorus of Stressed Out:
Wish we could speed up time
To our future lives
When we get to live out our dreams
Cuz now we're stressed out.
Breakfast was as usual here - whatever you want that we have! Miranda, Ryan and I made toast and helped get yogurt and stuff out. I burned my hand on the toaster oven (not a bad one, it didn't hurt like at all after).
We stopped at Gethsemani so that we could pick up our guide to our work site (Oscar). We headed closer and closer...and finally stopped at that same spot on that little road in that cute little town. We walked through that metal door and down that wonderfully familiar and beautiful path that we once chased giggling children on, laughing. Yes, the same work site as last year! Sadly, we were there in the morning before the kids were back from school, but at least Juan was there! Kyle, Miranda and I were practically jumping up and down in excitement. And that foundation we laid last year? It's now a fully built school room(s), and with an added porch-walk in front. It was so beautiful and exciting to see our work added to and built upon to create something so special. And the main school room where we mixed cement and hung out with kids was a mess, completely full of a mid-layer scaffolding so that Juan and his helper could fix up the ceiling with the beautiful designs and patters that they do by hand. The yard, too, was basically all dirt.
Where we had previously seen only a foundation!
The scaffolding set up in the schoolhouse.
Ryan asked who wanted to paint and he got them started - they painted the bathrooms blue and the metal doors red. Those of us who were left was a fun group: me, Kyle, Miranda, Ryan, Matthew, and Colin. We were inside the little school room (that we laid the foundation for) and the porch walk way and the guys hoed and picked and broke up the dirt and Miranda and I shoveled it into a wheelbarrow that would get emptied into a pile in the yard until the floor was about three inches lower, so that they could lay the floor for it. We came across many soda bottle caps, and Miranda would say, "Ryan, I found one of your soda bottle caps from last year" and he'd be like, "You can't prove it!" ;) It was actually a lot of fun and pretty easy, especially with the fun group we had.
Hannah, Brian, and Joann painting
Kyle dumping dirt on our growing pile
Colin and Kyle smiling as Matthew pretends to be deranged in the background
We were there until about 12, and before we left we got a picture of me, Miranda, Kyle and Ryan with Juan in front of where we worked twice. Before we left Juan told Miranda that he is so grateful that we did all that digging because him doing it himself would take forever and that we did work for him and for God because it was such a blessing. Aww! Also, when Miranda asked him about his knee, he said he never had to go to the doctor's to get it checked out because God healed him! On Sunday he also said that when we prayed over his knee last year, he felt fire in his leg and his knee was healed. Praise God!
We returned to the compound for lunch and got a quick shower before we left for Gethsemani at 2:15. We picked up our translator, a fun lady named Karen, and another teacher, who brought on board two massive pinatas - one was the green monster from Monster's Inc. and the other was a minion. We drove and drove, and it was looking really familiar...we ended up at another place we had been before - the small Catholic school up on a hill. Even from down on the street we could hear them playing music, and they were really good! Anyway, up the hill and into the school...and we had quite a surprise - the had a second level and a roof!! It was very different in there with a roof. The little kids (they were not the older ages that were there last time) came up to all of us right away. I was carrying the bag of eighth plastic balls that we bought them, and they kept coming over towards me and looking at them. *(Funny note - Ryan was wearing the same shirt he did the last time we were at that school!)*
For the ministry part, Brian and his group did their "evangecubes" and then Hannah shared her testimony. After a prayer, then, we did the pinatas. Those kids whacked it with all of their might, and they mobbed the pinata when the first pieces of candy started falling, and the look on their faces....it was all just awesome. Chaos, but amazing all the same. Then we threw out the balls to them and they were having a blast. Several of the girls crowded around Miranda and literally petted her hair! We barely got out of that place, because the kids didn't want us to leave.
Karen translating for Sonia
The evangecubes
The first pinata!
The kids were so happy and excited
The second pinata!
Also, here is just a picture of their culture - some ladies by the side of the road dressed very traditionally.
We stopped at Pollo Campero for supper. At least we didn't have to worry about anyone getting sick on Flan, because Miranda specifically told the waitress NO FLAN! It was a fun time over supper, at least in our group of young people.
Ryan and Hannah were paying attention and smiled for the camera
Colin and Derek
Crazy Kyle eating his 30 wings that Miranda ordered him
We got back to the compound around 6:30 and while Ryan and Miranda went to talk to Jodi, we hung out in the blue room and Kyle played our 21 Pilots songs (House of Gold, Stressed Out, Migraine, Car Radio, Doubt, and Kitchen Sink). When they returned we went over the rest of the week's plan better than the night before, we did a worship song and then Miranda and I asked if we could do more worship so we stayed for that. Basically, it was just our group and Derek and Colin. It was totally what we all needed, though. It was a good night.
Also, for fun, Miranda and I worked out new lyrics to the chorus of Stressed Out:
Wish we could speed up time
To our future lives
When we get to live out our dreams
Cuz now we're stressed out.
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