DAY 3

Today we had a great day connecting with people while continuing build their homes for them.  There seemed to be more of a comfort level overall between everyone.  More smiles, more conversations had, more sharing.  We are also able to connect with people as we handed out tickets to people for the food distribution that will be taking place tomorrow.  It was actually a nice change of pace of doing construction.  Five of us form the team walked three long streets of houses, and we were able to walk up to people's front doors and engage in conversation with them.  For the group I was with, the experience at first house we went to was actually pretty heavy.  We walked up to the front porch of a woman who was lying in a hammock.  She was sick from what I think were gall stones.  You could see anxiety and concern on her face as she shared this news with us, so I asked her if we could pray for her... and we did.  We prayed for healing... and for God's peace and comfort for her.  Reflecting on that experience, I couldn't help but think about how blessed I am.  If this woman were my mom, or wife or daughter, I would be sure they would have the best of care to ease any pain... and to take care of the problem.  For this woman... I'm pretty sure she was on some sort of waiting list that hopefully she would make it to the top of before her condition became grave.  After we prayed for her, she was moved to tears.  And the local community leader we were with, Carolina, embraced her as she lay in the hammock... silently whispering words of comfort and encouragement.  I was moved to tears.

 

We visited over 200 homes and had a few other opportunities to visit with people... handing out tickets and letting them know that we'd be giving out bags of food at the baptist church at 2pm tomorrow.

We ended our day in Tipitapa by meeting with two of the families that we had completed houses for.  We prayed with them and prayed over their homes.  We prayed for God's continued provision and protection upon them, and that God would continue to work in their lives reminding them of his love for them in Christ.

Tonight, during our group processing/sharing time, there was a great spirit among the group.  Everyone had such positive experiences to share about their time with their families and with each other.  And it was repeated several times, "You come here thinking you're going to give and serve, but you it seems you get way more out of serving here than you give."  I'm glad that everyone was having this sort of experience.  It's an awesome thing to be able to share the love of God with others, and to find yourself filled with the joy and love of Christ as a result.  We worshipped from our hearts tonight.  Our God is good.  We are blessed.  It's joy and privilege to be used by God to let others know that He sees them and he loves them.