The entire team would like to start today’s blog with a special request for all of you reading the blog. One of our team members, Marta, left Quito yesterday to return to the United States due to some health issues that her father is experiencing. We ask that you all join in praying with our team for Marta, her father, and their entire family.
This morning began early for many on the team as a group left for an early morning hike up the many stairs to the lighthouse. Some others left soon after to walk to the local school where most of the team met up to play with the children of San Lorenzo. It was great fun as we played with basketballs, footballs, and jump ropes with many of the kids. Many recalled that some of our team had been down in August to play as well. About twenty minutes after we arrived, another bus dropped off the younger children from the orphanage. What a fantastic reunion with these loving children!
When the children lined up for class, the team headed back to La Cueva for breakfast, another delicious meal! By 9:00 we were boarding the open air truck with many supplies in tow to head up to the orphanage. Once there, we were greeted by the older children who attend school in the afternoon. The living room was decorated with several posters welcoming the team and a special note thanking many on the team for coming back to spend time with them. The pictures that our team had taken, printed and left with the children in August were plastered all about the orphanage.
Due to the familiarity of the job site we were able to get right to work! A group joined with a few locals working at the orphanage to do some excavating and cement laying for a retaining wall around the front of the first building. Another crew began wiping down the walls of the second home and painting a final coat of white paint throughout the house. Tim, our team carpenter, began construction of bunk beds for the second home. Still others spent time preparing a delicious lunch with our missionary host Susan. Finally another team spent time making fun crafts with the children when they arrived home from school. We all had a very busy, productive day! It was a great end to the work day as we all spent a little time at the end playing with the children outside.
Now some of you may be wondering about this crazy idea of playing outside, and that deserves some explanation! Much to the amazement of some on our team, when we arrived in San Lorenzo yesterday, the sun was shining! AND, it was hot! We even watched a beautiful sunset and saw the moon and a few stars! It was so warm that we took an hour at the end of the night to have a bonfire on the beach while sharing life tokens and some great music courtesy of Brad and Ann. Wow, what a day!
This morning when we woke up it was overcast and raining a bit, much more like the weather that we experienced last year; however, through much of the workday it was pleasant and a wonderful day to play outside. Also, the mud is gone! There have been many changes at the orphanage since our first team left in August! Someday perhaps you can come down and check it all out for yourself!
Tomorrow we will continue with our projects that began today as well as start laying concrete in the lower room that we worked on in August.
Thank you for partnering with our team in this awesome adventure!
On behalf of the team,
~Jennifer
p.s. Happy Birthday Wishes to Joe and Sam!
p.s.s. A rumor has started to circulate that now that we are back in town the internet café may reopen. ;)
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4 comments:
Hey Paw-- Just want to say I love you and hope you start feeling better real soon. I feel awful that you got sick. Hopefully the medicine will fix you up real soon. We will pray that you and anyone else who isn't feeling 100% starts to feel better soon. You picked a good week to be away-- as the weather is lousy. Today is overcast and 60. Seems more like a fall day than mid-June. Hang in there. Love kisses and hugs from your family!! xoxoxoxo
Hi Mom! Hi John! Just wanted to let you know that we are thinking of you every day. Looks like you've been very busy so far and lots of traveling! I'm exhausted just reading about it. I hope you both are well down there. You both have a lot of energy, love, joy, understanding, wisdom, and much more, to share. I am proud of you both, and the team, for being so giving of yourselves. Blessings to all and thanks for keeping us up to date.
Oh, and don't worry Mom, we are still ok, no flooding in our neck of the woods. And Brooke has a new word...."honey". When she breaks something or drops something I say "oh, honey", and she has picked that one up. It's pretty cute.
All our love, Jeanie, Leah, Brooke, Skylor, Kayla, and Robert
Hey Jennifer,
I can always tell when you are the author of the "update"...you have such a distinction to your writing! We will pray for Marta's family...what a horrible situation and alot of flying in such a short time.
It sounds like you are having a grand time with all of the little ones. And sunshine...how awesome is that, I know last year you said you saw very little. Well you should all feel very proud of yourselves for the time and energy that you are giving to these wonderful, deserving children. I can't believe that all of the mud is gone.....how are the bugs? It sounds like you are all very busyand hard at work. Take care of yourselves and give those little kids lots of love....you are changing lives and giving these children hope. Have fun! Love, Nancy
Chapas - Miss you guys so much! Cinco and FPL miss you big team J-Dawg! Sounds like you guys are already busy busy busy. I'll bet you're making all kinds of friends with the other kids!!
Spent quite a bit of time with Comesanas. They are heading back tomorrow (Friday). Saw your neighbor Karen today and she said to make sure to invite you to their graduation party on the 28th.
All my love - be safe. XOXOXOXOX
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