.Home Visits.

Sunday, July 10:

There was so much more that I didn't have time to write last night. I was racing the clock, trying to get as many things on paper as I could before they turned off the generator at 10:30.

Just driving around today (and from the airport yesterday) has been pretty surreal for me. I can not wrap my head around the fact that this is real life here. It looks like something from a movie. Houses made with scraps of metal and small chunks of wood. "Running water" that consists of a PVC pipe running along the side of the road with no pressure behind it. I have seen several brooms that are just a stick with a large hand-full of grass/weeds tied around it, at one end. Our lives are so different. Yet, they are so content. They are happy with what God has given them. And I complain when I get water in my basement! I act as though the house is falling down around me - I take advantage of flipping on a light switch - washing my dishes indoors - throwing all of my laundry in a machine that will do all the work for me! Not to mention, I can drink the water that comes out of my faucet.

We were able to visit three homes today. Each family that allowed us to visit was more than generous! They wouldn't let us help with anything. And they wouldn't stop until there was a chair for each of us to sit in... even if it meant that they stand.

The first family we visited.

The second lady we visited, Ana Franchesca, offered us bananas as we were leaving. We were told in the beginning not to accept any food or drink that was not packaged. (This was because we were not sure exactly where it came from and they didn't want anyone getting sick). I felt terrible turning them down! And at the same time, I wondered if I would have even offered them, if I was in her position. To offer complete strangers food, when you really can't afford it and you have five kids of your own to feed - Amazing! If I could only be half as generous.

Maddy, Erika, Ana Franchesca, Isaiah

The last house we visited was a couple that had four daughters. They ranged fro age 17 to 1 1/2 :) The two middle girls attended the school that we would be working on. This family had a radio playing inside and while we were talking Michael Jackson came on. This made me smile. It's just crazy that so many, many miles away and in very different lifestyles we could like the same things!

The last couple we visited and their four gorgeous daughters!

Once we were done with our home visits we were supposed to wait at the school for the others to get done with their visits. We had quite a bit of time left before we were supposed to leave for church so four of us decided to go for a walk around town on our own. As we were leaving, Pedro, one of the translators, sent two little boys with us. They were Pastor Thomas' sons, Christopher and Christian.

Christopher, Yemi, Angela, myself and Christian

They were very good tour guides, even though they spoke no English. They took us to a few different places. They showed us where they make the cement blocks that we would be using for the school project later that week.

Christian, Christopher and Yemi at the 'Block Factory'

We walked back just in time to make the bus for the ride to church (which we had to get off of twice for to go over speed bumps and hills). We saw so many people swimming and sitting in the river on the way. It was very hard not to jump in with them. It is so humid here!