To start off our day, our teammate Lois gave us a great devotional (as she did Monday) on the subject of being called, the blessing and opportunity of being called to work for the Lord. Through prayer and scripture, she encouraged us to pray that God would “grant us a cause,” for it is in doing God’s work that we are truly blessed and pleasing to Him.

Pastor Lois giving us our daily bread

 
This morning, a few of us had the opportunity to meet with all the “mami”s and work on a craft designed by Lisa, based on a need they had expressed – birthday banners.  For 12-16 birthdays per year, the Mamis have to make an individual birthday sign.  The materials are expensive and their time priceless, so we worked with them to create one banner with rings on the bottom to hang name signs.  We used markers and alcohol to create interesting dye patterns and colors which will eventually serve as the candle flame.  The ladies had a blast – a social time to be together and play as well as learn a new craft.  As team members occasionally returned to the house, it was sweet to see how the Mamis have already adopted even us.  It was a wonderful time of fellowship in which I, Alicia, was blessed by the opportunity to see all these amazing women in one room, to get to know them as women and not just Mamis, and to express my admiration for all that they do. These are truly superwomen.

Crafting Mamis

Mami Marielos loves Jodi =)

On the job site, most people were mudding – quite fitting because it was raining – but we discovered that we needed more ladders and mud trays.  These Ticos make due with what we would call very substandard equipment, and our foremen (thank you very much) will not allow us to use their rickety, broken-runged ladders. The hope for Wednesday is to get some taller/more stable ladders to “float” (ie – spread a mud-like substance) over the sheet rock on these 15 foot walls.  Meanwhile, Ticos are busy in the rest of the house laying floors and other things.  They work much faster than us. 

Rainy construction site

"Mudding", "Floating", whatever it is, it's pretty messy and really fun!

The aches and pains are increasing but thankfully Tuesday was an injury-free day!
We returned to our houses for dinner, which we all enjoy immensely, and for some it was picture night.  Each year we take pictures of each child with the volunteers to give them on the last day as a memory of our time together.  I brought to my house pictures from the last year.  Every child, even those not in the pictures, was mesmerized and begged to have their picture taken.  Imagine that a single picture of you would mean so much…it’s hard to do considering most of us have 1000s of pictures on our computers.  Another boy called me to follow him down the hall and went to get something from his room – it was his pillow case that we had brought the year before.  He showed it proudly and said that he never took it off.  This pillowcase is something – I can say with great confidence – no boy in America would like, much less treasure.  It cannot be sufficiently expressed, how thankful they are – for every gift, every meal, every hug they receive.

The pictures laid out across the table by Mami for all to enjoy

Speaking of the children, some of us were privy to distressing information about what two of them had suffered. I cannot begin to tell you of the horror, and I wouldn’t want to – not only to protect you from heartbreak and revolt but also to preserve a portion of their dignity.  I mention this just to impress upon you the power of this place, the healing, redeeming love of God, and the suffering that exists not only here but in our cities as well.  PRAY FOR THE CHILDREN and praise God that Roblealto exists.

Thanks for reading.  Hasta mañana. – Team 1

Had you been on the worksite with us, you may have heard the following -

“Oh, I got drilled earlier today.” Note to self – do not put your thumb near someone else’s drill site.

“It wasn’t in my line of sight.  Oh, I didn’t have my glasses.” Note to self – wear my glasses.

“Get Alicia!” Note to self – don’t start a conversation without an interpreter.

“Are you laughing at me?”  “No, I’m laughing with you. If you’re not laughing, it’s not my problem.”  Note to self – when using full body weight to drill through a tough stud, prepare to be watched.

The Drill Pose

“Oh shoot, I lost my thingy!” Note to self – don’t lose the thingy.

Other notes to self:

When walking a narrow ledge, carry the heavy bucket of water on the inside.

Don’t get stuck translating an argument between contractors.

Don’t stand under someone shaving sheet rock.

Don’t press a hot screw.

Screw burn

and lastly,  It’s NOT frosting!

Oops, what do you mean it's not frosting?

Mmmm, where's the cake?

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Monday was a great day!  As with any new project, the start was somewhat slow as we all settled into our various positions while figuring out how to stay out of the Ticos’ way. Everyone, especially Ricky D., Doug, and Patrick (our construction leads), practiced his/her flexibility when the rooms we were supposed to work on were having the floors layered with cement, and when the Tico foreman had a problem with the joint tape we brought to use.  Alicia had the opportunity to translate that lively discussion between two practiced and stubborn contractors.  Some of us learned corner bracketing and sharpened our drilling skills (with only a few slight mishaps/misdrills if you will).  Others were taping joints and “mudding” walls.

At the end of the work day, people realized they were blessed with  more muscles than they knew, long hair was matted with cement-like dust and humidity, and all were eager to meet with their assigned families.

This first night each house had an interpreter, to make introductions and facilitate getting to know each other. This was an enormous blessing for us to be able to really engage with the children and parents.  We had a series of questions for the children to answer, and those answers touched our hearts. Questions of deepest wishes and greatest happinesses were met with answers of family healing, moments of love and care, daily meals, great interest in and gratitude for the volunteers who come, prayers for OUR families, etc.

As many of us learned last year, these children and so well-loved and well-taught, and the response of their hearts, souls, and minds is astounding and moving.  In answer to “What makes you happy?” one girl said “When Mami hugs me.” A boy answered the question “What do you appreciate about your (house) mami?” with “how she cares for us, protects us, and sets a good example.”  Let’s ALL strive to do that in the lives of those around us, to do what we can to fill the bellies of children, and to embrace as many people as we can because to some, it means the world.

Señor, por favor, abra nuestras corazones y ojos para ver el pobre y para amar Su mundo. Ayudenos a vivir como Su hijo, a proteger Sus hijos. Y proteja nosotros en el reste de esta semana.  Gracias por esta oportunidad. En el nombre de Jesus, Amen.

OOPS – sorry about the delay in posting, but I think I’ve finally got a hang of this wi-fi.

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After a long sleep (for those of us who did not wake up to the hurricane sounding wind outside), we woke to a breakfast of scrambled eggs with ham and cheese and pancakes, thanks to the early waking and serving hearts of Rich S and Bob.  We all really loved our experience at a local church, which warmly welcomed us and provided a translator for the sermon. It was especially nice to recognize some of the worship songs as those we also sing in the States and thereby have the ability to understand and join in.

Our friend, and former Roblealto staff member, Fabian was able to join us for church and our seafood lunch afterwards. It was a real treat to see him and certainly a help in ordering 18 drinks and meals.  After lunch we had some time for souvenir and grocery shopping and returned to the house just about in time for dinner.

A competitive game of chicken foot lasted all evening, while some did sudoku or read. Taste treats purchased earlier in the day were passed around and enjoyed. The writer of this blog was happy to dominate at cribbage, and laughter was abundant as we got to know each other’s quirks and humors. One comment heard often over the

A meeting in the evening helped us debrief the past two days and prepare for the next 6.  With our assignments laid out for the week and our excitement building, we stayed up past 8 (unlike Saturday).

Here are some pictures from Saturday and Sunday

sardines in a bus

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The View from Casa Bosque

Worship at Iglesia El Camino in Barva

Chicken foot, it can really get to ya.

Baby Bruno loving a belly rub from Rich.