27 May 2011 Friday

Bonswa!

it's been another productive day here in Grand Goave! the majority of our Akron team has been helping Drex Stuart with construction at the new Hands and Feet orphanage site for the last few days. the new land is about half a mile down the highway from the MOH school/church site, where the kids live now. all of the kids staying at the MOH orphanage now will be moving into the new Hands and Feet orphanage in Grand Goave as soon as it's ready. The goal is to have semi-temporary housing on the new property ready for the kids to move in as of June 20. so far, we've dug (fairly shallow) foundations for the semi-temporary houses at the new orphanage site, and also poured concrete and set almost the full perimeter of concrete block for the bathroom building. the site is also ready for the concrete to be poured for the boys' house, and the majority of the septic and plumbing has been dug as well. all of the buildings will be made from the Samaritan's Purse shelters, just like the ones our previous teams have built, except substituting plywood for the blue tarps. they'll be putting four 12x12 houses together for the 24 boys, and two houses together for the 7 girls. there will also be a bathroom, with separate boys and girls sides, as well as a kitchen, a pavilion area with tables for meals, activities, homework, etc., the last building will be an apartment for andrew and angie sutton and their baby, faith, who are currently living at the Hands and Feet site down in Jacmel, but will be moving up to oversee the Grand Goave site as of June 20. [side note: andrew is also a pilot and an A&P mechanic, so there's potential for two pilots in Grand Goave... ;) ]

it really has been a great trip so far. [and i'm not just saying that because that's what you're supposed to say]. it's been great to work alongside the people i've been working with, to see the kids at the orphanage again, and to improve my creole. some of the pieces are starting to [slowly] fall into place, and although i still probably sound like a four-year-old with a terrible american accent, i can actually form some complete sentences now! Mwen renmen lunette sole. I like sunglasses.
Eske ou ede mwe? Can you help me? and so on. :)

the more time i spend here, the more confirmation i feel that this really is where i'm supposed to be. while things aren't always super efficient, and there's definitely lots of dirt and bugs and sweat, life is good here. it's not good because it's easy, but it's good because it's purposeful. it's good because we were made to work, and care for people, and laugh, and rest. we were meant to share life with people we care about, and reflect Christ through what we do and how we live, and i see that so clearly here in this place.

love you all.

to Him be the Glory!