What architect? August 12th

We began our morning negotiating for a lunch for some children from Compassion International.  We met them once before in 2012, and though it was supposed to be the children and their Compassion representatives, families excited to meet sponsors jumped on board and we had quite a group to feed.  We are anticipating they same size group again and so are trying to come up with a menu that satisfies everyone and still leaves us with enough for a ticket back to the US.  

Ebola update:  Do you know it is covered on the US news stations by far more time and concern than here?  We've watched the news in the dining room during meals a couple of times and haven't seen much at all.

We met with another ministry here this morning, touring their place and hearing about their efforts to keep children with their mothers, providing services, encouragement, education and emergency housing.  Traffic was a little heavy as we left and we learned that livestock have the right of way. PERIOD!

Tomorrow we begin our project in Kakira and we had some pre-building business to attend to.  Every once in a while we come across something that looks like so much fun, I'm tempted to climb out of the van myself and join in...collecting water + babysitting a sibling + wooden wheelbarrow.

 

Just when I thought the excitement was over and we'd driven by the best ride in town...we choose the same single lane road as this guy and had to get out and try to decide which side we'd have the best chance of surviving...muddy ditch to the left, uneven high mounds of dirt on the right.  We chose the former and prayed our way over the great high-center potential.  

 

We finally made it our destination and began our discussions for building plans tomorrow.

Like all great construction projects we began with drawing out the plans...

 

 Next came the meeting with contractors and supervisors...supplies were decided on and ordered for delivery, including the number of shovels and trowels we'd need. 

 Considering our lack of common language between parties combined with our ZERO experience building in red dirt, bricks and tin...we thought it best to pray over the site early on and ask for a mighty miracle to build something to protect and not potentially kill its inhabitants.

 The tiny grandmother raising 5 boys including twins was overjoyed and though we could understand almost nothing she said, it was clear she was grateful for the help.  We've been helping the boys attend school and with emergency food help, so we sat with them a bit and went over each report card from this last term.  Some did well, the others have struggled and it was difficult to determine whether it is lack of effort, interest, ability or attendance.  Regardless we used every bit of encouragement we had to remind them of the opportunity they have and that we care about them regardless.  The culture in Kakira is different, even then other areas nearby.  Its difficult to see motivation in they eyes of most when hope for change seems distant and results in disappointment.

 Meanwhile, California...I know our water shortage seems inconvenient, but perhaps knowing that every ounce of water here has to be carried quite a distance can help us appreciate what we do have.  Tomorrow when concrete is mixed...by hand...in the dirt...someone will carry that burden and Jerrican for us as well.

And then we saw this and I can't get over what was written in chalk in the front of a church...somehow it doesn't fit at all and yet must be completely necessary. Go figure!

We stopped off at the Lady's Business Class weekly meeting to greet and encourage them.  Of course that is exactly what they did for us too.

We stopped in town for some fabric, thread and to replace a book that somehow escaped from what was delivered yesterday, and then headed to Chayah.

We played spoons, netball and read some books to the youngest on the front porch before threatening rain sent us on our way back to the hotel. 

To this point our time here has been so great, productive and relational.  Tomorrow promises to be much more physical and I didn't see much shade in the building area.  We'll attract dozens of curious children tomorrow I'm sure and I'm praying we are able to do a bit more than take there pictures.  Perhaps the Lord will inspire something while we attempt to dig and pour a foundation where dying corn stalks lay today.  Building homes, building relationships, building the Kingdom...one piece at a time with the perfect cornerstone in Christ. 


 "So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household,  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.  The whole building, being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord. You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit."  Ephesians 2:19-22

"He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Cornerstone#sthash.BaKnlv8x.dpuf

"He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Cornerstone#sthash.BaKnlv8x.dpuf

"He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Cornerstone#sthash.BaKnlv8x.dpuf