Wednesday and Thursday

WEDNESDAY

This is a two day update that will bring you up to speed on what has been happening down here in Guatemala.

On Wednesday, our group had breakfast at 7:30 and had time to finish their devotionals. We had orientation at SETECA while some of the group re-packed our secondary bags for Casa. (we separate items of value that we carry so that if someone looks to take anything from our bags the items are spread out among our 70 bags.) The team began working on many projects here at the seminary as there is so much to do. Our group could stay here a month and still have things to do. We had a group working in the library dusting books and entering data to update the computer system. Now when I say dusting books, there is no air conditioning here and so they open the windows right next to the busy street here in the city. Most of the dust on the books was dust from the diesel cars and busses that drive by all day. Another part of the team was in the home base for our group serving those who had minor cuts and were needing a good break from working hard. We had a few people who were not feeling well, mostly due to over exhaustion and lack of fluids. It is hard to pace yourself here as the altitude sneaks up on you. We thank the prayer team back home for their efforts in praying for those who were not feeling well. Everyone is up on their feet and back to work, we have no one who is not working due to injury. Praise God!

About 60 or so of our group began digging through mud and dirt to build 10 concrete junction boxes and to supply 4” conduit for new electrical lines to those boxes for housing on campus. I estimate that it is about 180 yards of trench at a foot wide by 24” deep. This is hard work, as there are tree roots, concrete and other surprises in the dirt/mud that make it difficult to dig effectively. The teams who were working on the roots had such a hard time, getting through all the roots. They are real servants. Not one complaint! The mornings are the best time to work because around 1:30 every day when we break for lunch, it rains enough to erode some solid Palouse farm hills!

Another group of ladies have been helping a lady here on campus make puppets for the ministry that God has called her to do.

We had Pollo Campero for dinner. Basically a KFC back in the states but about 50 times better. Pollo Campero is a major fast food chain that started in Guatemala and is now all over the world even China. We watched a video on Guatemala and the Seminary and headed off to bed around 9:30. Our team was so tired. People were even sleeping while waiting for dinner.


THURSDAY

Rested and a little sore, we were right back working again, on the same projects that we had the day before.

Another part of our team began working on tearing down an old basketball hoop that has been continuously hit by cars in the parking lot. This thing was a monster! Sledge hammers and chisels and a team of 9 people finally were able to get the remainder of concrete out of the hole by hooking it up to Carl’s (our guide) van and pulling it free. I do not know if that block of concrete will ever get broken down! The whole process took approx 5 hours.

The trench team continued working hard. The only hiccup was while crossing a dirt/gravel road we hit a gas line that was placed only 8 or so inches deep and a little later in the day a water line that was under a 12 inch diameter tree root (we found out later, that it was no longer in use) You never know what you are going to get when working construction in Guatemala. And no, there was no Avista to call before we dig! All precautions were taken and the gas was shut off and so there would be no dinner from the dining hall tonight. Carl and I decided we would walk our group in teams up to McDonalds. It was only about 3 blocks away and would give us all a chance to see a little street life in Guatemala. I will let your family/friends fill you in more on that trip when the return home. We then went back to the seminary, ate our food, and listened to 2 students give their testimony from the Seminary. It is always so awesome to hear what God is doing in this world and how he guides people to be lead to His glory and saving grace of Jesus Christ.

We went to bed around 10:30 getting ready for another busy day on Friday.

**Please praise God for His constant protection, petition Him for quick recovery from working and that He will guide the team of 30 people here safe that are traveling from Colfax all day Friday.