Day 4

One word.  Construction!  We worked very hard making bricks, pouring cement and leveling the ground!  We also visited various small groups and participated with them!

Please pray for...
Kathryn L. - ear ache

"Today we had a full day of construction; it was really exhausting, but definitely worth it. Although making the bricks was strenuous, it was amazing to see how brick-making works. Jose directed us in making bricks; he was so patient no matter how much we messed up and how confused we were. His attitude inspired me to act with more patience from day to day. I was able to experience something that you can't in the U.S. and it was really humbling for me. In the U.S., Bricks are not made by mud and are made in factories. 

 After dinner tonight, we broke up into groups and were able to hang out with the local small groups. I do not speak Spanish, so I was sort-of intimidated by the small group I hung out with. It was awesome because a couple of the young adults spoke a little English and were able to make it easier for me to communicate with the others. During the worship, it occurred to me that it doesn't matter what language someone speaks, we all have the same GOD." - Kristi W.

"Bricks. Bricks. Bricks. A double of shift of of construction happened today. It was hard. It was heavy. And it was awesome. Later in the day, we went to our cell groups which is church for the people of Peru. We sang worship songs and it felt like I was back home again. I guess wherever you feel God, you feel home. God is home, and in Peru, I feel home everywhere. In the midst of all this construction, all this building, it was so fitting for the story of Noah to come in. Noah was put to work by God. Not just construction, but the work of God. He made an arc with a deck, roof, and a door. It was probably hard. It was probably all heavy. And it was probably awesome. But, "Noah did everything just as God commanded him." Gen 6:22. And so the water came for 150 days but it says "God remembered Noah" and they were safe. God made a covenant that day to never flood the earth again. A promise. An everlasting promise of love. "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer, and winter, day and night, will never cease. Gen 8:22 " So here we are with the world enduring in Peru right now, living through the cold mornings of the winter ,the hot afternoons, the days and the nights. It doesn't cease and I dont want them too for God's promises are engraved on every street corner here in Trujillo. In the people in their smiles. His promises are alive and in every brick we make and they point to something far greater. And its happening now."  - Mary L.

" It's only day three and I am exhausted. Today we worked construction all day. All of the guys were working with the cement, making it and then pouring it as a foundation for a new school building. At first it wasn't that bad, it was heavy but it was not killing me. Since today we were at the construction site all day it was very hard, especially in the morning. After lunch there was not that much left so we all pushed each other. Thing I liked most about working today was the way that we kept each other in line and encouraged one another. The simple things really make a difference, even when we were all tired. 

     After construction I felt everything was easier, but my legs were so tired. When we went back to our home base we had about an hour to take a shower and relax before dinner, something I think everyone needed. We all had to look presentable because, after dinner, we were going to break up into small groups with one of the local churches. It was an incredible experience in my opinion. In my group we introduced ourselves and everyone seemed so welcoming. Something I also noticed was that we prayed a lot. We then sang songs and played a silly game as an ice breaker. There was very little english so I could not understand much, I had a great time meeting people and trying out my spanish. Please pray for strength and courage in everything I do here."  Brandon C.