Day 3 - Bonao

Friday – June 6, 2008
It’s about 2:00 in the afternoon – Perry and Kirk (and Manny) are working at Pastor Elvis’ house and I am back at the hotel protecting the women from all of the many harms that can befall them in a strange land. Actually, the guys are digging a trench, laying cement footings and preparing for concrete work and they are incredibly worn out. This is the trip we could have used 30 people! It’s hot and I have never seen skin leak like Kirk and Perry’s. I have been running around getting equipment, paying bills, and delivering gifts with the Lisa, Amy and Lori. The church family in the Dominican are appreciative of the gifts we have brought them. It is fun to deliver the gifts – I wish you could experience it – maybe next time? The families look at you like, “why are you doing this?”

One story – When we started knocking out the old concrete and digging we disturbed hundreds of cockroaches. Each sizing up at about one inch with some as large as three! The chickens in Pastor Elvis’ yard went crazy. It was Cockroach Buffet at Pastor Elvis’ house. We were trying to keep them from attacking our legs. These bugs were so big they could have carried a young child away. I took some pictures but I am having trouble getting to internet. Hope to solve the problem later today. I decided to pick one up and fry it and eat it! Okay, that parts not true but the rest of the story is the truth.

Tomorrow is the Children’s Day. Carlos’ church is in charge and we are helping them. After about two hours with the kids we are having an all church catered chicken and rice dinner provided by Shorewood Church of God and your love offering! Again, I wish you could experience this. The people are so moved by your generosity and blind love. In addition to the dinner, all of the supplies for the work, new chairs at the church and Pastor Elvis’ car is being fixed for the first time in two years. It’s hard to understand for the people but that’s the way Christ loves.

He loves us and it’s hard to comprehend why – it has nothing to do with our performance or worthiness. We’re not. It has nothing to do because we’re family – he adopts us. Amazing love, how can it be that thou my God would die for me? Grace and Peace to you!