Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Thursday
1. Lynette, Kim, Grant, and Matt spent the morning wrapping up the tie-dying from yesterday's craft. We are going to give the shirts back to the kids tomorrow night at a bonfire with hot chocolate - quite a treat we hear! The shirts had to be rinsed, and then washed in the hottest water possible to set the dye - problem is, none of the multitude of washing machines here had hot water connected to them. Matt remedied that by scavenging in the shop, finding enough fittings to convert the showerhead into a standard hosebib connection and a muy grande garden hose to fill the washers.
2. The shirts all turned out great! We can't wait to see the kids wear them!
3. Painting projects are coming along, but seem to be taking longer than we anticipated. Our goal is to wrap up everything that we have started by tomorrow afternoon.
4. We had a great trip into San Salvador this afternoon. We enjoyed a very relaxing lunch outdoors at a cafe, took a hike to the top of the volcano, and then took in a typical market (tourist souvenirs). After a quick trip to Walmart - just like Walmart in the States with a few bits of local flavor - we made a final stop for helado - we all scream for ice cream!
5. We got to see a lot of the country today. The huge disparity between the few very rich (thus the Maserati dealership we passed) and then just about everyone else.
6. Reflecting on the kids here at Shalom, even seeing some of the country today, it's still hard to imagine what many of them have come from, or what their lives would be like if they were not here. They are loved, well fed, have safe shelter and clothes, get an education, and most importantly - have the opportunity to learn about Christ.
Lots of pictures today. We will post them when we are back in the states!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Wednesday
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Monday
2. We were hoping to get into town to go to Walmart so that we could buy another crib or even a pack n play for Shalom. But, plans didn't quite work out and there was no room in the truck that was headed to town for any of us to go - and it was too difficult to try and explain what a pack n play was in our broken Spanish!
3. About an hour after the truck left, 2 more babies were dropped off by a government official. One is still wearing a hospital band and was abandoned there.
4. Now the need for cribs is huge! Thankfully since our team raised extra funds we will be able to buy three more cribs for the orphanage! God clearly provided for a need that we didn't even know was coming.
5. Luke spent the morning playing with the two and unders...and loved it. There's a little boy named Moises (near Luke's age, probably a little older) who loves peek-a-boo, being chased and tickled!
6. Our team primarily worked on painting projects today. Some members (including Matt) moved a couple hundred blocks from outside the worksite into the medical clinic under construction and up three flights of steps...with only a wheelbarrow, hard hats, and work gloves. And after watching the whole construction process, we definitely had the least strenuous task-everthing is done manually - sifting sand from gravel, bending and welding rebar, and carrying cement upstairs - the only powered equipment we saw were the two gas powered stationary cement mixers.
7. We all agree - the food here is amazing! Just don't buy anything off the street.