Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
Our guesthouse women did it again! They spoiled us with the breakfast we had this morning. There is nothing like the combination of pancakes, bacon, creamy peanut butter and maple syrup. Yes, together
It was another energetic cattle ride. And another amazing sunrise. We were looking forward to our third workday up in Zoranje. God is so good to us!
We have really seen what He has been doing through us. There is a buzz in Zoranje. About the church and the school. But most importantly about Jesus. More and more people have come up to us asking for prayers and more information about Our Savior.
When we got to the worksite, Reva did the day’s deva, we mean devo. Say that five times fast! She talked about how sometimes we have a goal that God has set before us, and we either want to rush through the process or give up. She encouraged us to trust in Him and keep on the path that He has given us. The students from LABI also recited their code which was so amazing, and then Marissa led us in singing the chorus to “How Great Is Our God.”
Over 50 kids came to the morning VBS session. The kids enjoyed the skit our team put together, telling the story about Zacchaeus, the tax collector. The story included clowns as characters and beach balls as props. We bet you didn’t know there were circuses back in the Bible days…
In addition to coloring and handing out rainbow loom bracelets, the kids also enjoyed another Bible story, this one about the prodigal son. Yolanda and our interpreter (who had rehearsed the story beforehand), did an awesome job explaining the message to the kids. She told the group how she was able to relate to it. It was really great for the kids to see that someone “real” can go through different trials and situations just like the people in the Bible.
The afternoon session was packed again, with over 40 kids. These were kids who had gone to school all day and wanted to come learn about Jesus.
Meanwhile at the worksite, the morning was a slow start of hurrying up just to wait. It took a while for a handful of us to set up all of headers for the windows. But once they were in place, it was go time! All of those got poured. As the guys up above on the scaffolding got the mud poured into the headers, The Clean Crew followed behind cleaning up their mess. Sweeping with homemade brooms, the concrete floor seemed to sparkle.
The material arrived for the roof, so Team Raise The Roof started on cleaning those up and painting them. Team Gravel continued their reign on the piles, helping to fill out the other side of the school’s foundation.
Once everything was cleaned out of the right side of the school, a few of the ladies went onto the ground and prayed. Holding hands, Lorna prayed the most powerful prayer for these kids, for the teachers, for the families, for the church and for the village of Zoranje.
After lunch, Team Haiti started the slab on the other side of the school. So a few of us decided to take a walk around town. As we walked the two lane white rocky road, we passed by families hanging around their homes. Mothers washed clothes and infants in big metal tubs. Goats and chickens roamed the ground, scavenging for food scraps. Kids ran around, climbing on rocks. It was beautiful. Again, we cannot say it enough. These people are blessed and so content with just having their God.
A few of us continued higher up on the road, heading up into the mountains. They found a path that leading up the mountain that overlooks us as we work everyday at the church. Of course we had to hike up to the top. With Gil and Luis leading the way, Monica, Manya, Evelyn and Merari maneuvering their way through the brush. They finally found our way to the most spectacular view of the surrounding mountains and the church and the school we were building! They said that they could have spent all day up there. There is no way that you cannot feel the presence of God being surrounded by His own beautiful creation.
The way down the mountain was definitely harder than the way up. So as soon as they got back down, they were so happy to see a public bus trekking down the mountain. They stuck our thumbs out and to their surprise the driver stopped and brought them back to the church.
Back at the worksite, Team Haiti was still going strong with the slab laying. The rest of the group started to clean up. We piled into our cattle car and clown bus and headed home. It was a relief to be in less traffic.
Props again to our lovely women for cooking us another bomb diggity meal! Yes we just pulled that one out. Rice and beans, chicken, beets, spicy coleslaw, breadfruit (a combo between a sweet potato and a banana and bread), strawberry flavored cake and vanilla flavored cake. There were no leftovers in that kitchen! And for a treat, John our interpreter had brought us a bunch full of mangos. If you have never had a mango from here, you are truly missing out. Talk about flavor!
The group from Oklahoma, The Bridge Builders arrived at the guesthouse. It is a packed house… hopefully we don’t run out of toilet paper! There are here to help with VBS and also build some benches for the school we are building.
Tomorrow is our last workday. We will be building block again, this time on the left side of the school and hopefully be starting the roof on the right side.
Continue to pray for our team, for strength and energy for one last workday here. Pray for the people of Zoranje. Pray for the familes. Pray for the kids. And pray that God will continue to bless this city on a hill.
Let’s finish building this school!
OPERATION HOPE - Haiti 