Saturday July 3

Hey friends!

Can't believe we leave for home in two days!
This has been another full week of work and conference activities. The house count for the week is at 19 - not bad for five people in 3 1/2 days! We tarped houses Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday all day and Thursday morning. It has been a little rough this week, as Steph was sick Monday/Tuesday and Lauren was sick Wednesday/Thursday. Everyone is doing better now, and should be good to push through these final few days.

Thursday evening, people started showing up for the conference, and it kicked off with a big church service Thursday night. The new tin roof is wonderful, and it's decorated with all sorts of bright flower garlands and such for the conference. Friday, while everyone else was at the conference, the kids from the orphanage came out to the beach property to hang out all day, and then we came back for another conference church service last night. It was a special music night, and there was a guys acappella group (with an accordion!) that performed, as well as the "We are the World" student group that has been practicing for a few weeks. The conference generally consists of a pastor speaking for a few hours in the morning, then smaller workshops / breakouts in the afternoon, and a big worship service each evening. Today, we're at the office for a little bit, then back to the beach property with the kids, then up for the conference for the afternoon. Tomorrow the plan is church in the morning, then finishing up a couple more houses in the afternoon. Because, really, the trip wouldn't quite be complete if we didn't build houses on the last day. :)

It's a little surreal that this month is almost over. Perspective is an interesting thing, how a place that used to feel so foreign has in some ways begun to feel like home. Some things definitely still remind me that I'm a foreigner - being one of six white faces at a church service of a thousand people, or having little kids just stare at you because they've probably never seen another white person before. Sometimes though, I do feel like part of the community here. When a woman whose home we built a few days ago comes over at church and says hello, or when Pepe says "Bonjou!" and gives us a handshake each morning like we're a normal part of his team. It really has been good to become a part of this community during our time here. I'm already looking forward to coming back and seeing familiar faces again!

But in the meantime... it will be good to see all of you familiar Ohio faces in just a few short days! Can't wait to catch up and fill you in on all the rest of the stories that I didn't get a chance to share on here. :) See you soon!

To Him be the Glory!