Saturday, July 2, 2016

Today we stayed here on the seminary grounds to work. We all learned some patience while waiting for supplies, but the time was well spent in conversation and euchre! Our tasks: paint the inside rooms of two apartments, add a roof to two outdoor wash areas, repair unsafe wiring and replace light fixtures (to efficient LED) in both apartments, and install tile in two showers.

Most of these jobs were completed early!  There are just some one-person jobs left to finish up.  Since the majority of the youth were out of a job, the burning question was, "What else can we do?"

  

So....in addition, we painted the EXTERIOR of both apartments AND the exterior of the pastor's house!

All this, and time left over to have a wild and crazy paint fight! Our youth and the pastor's kids had the time of their lives tackling each other with paint. I also gotta say, Sandi Steggerda held her own with some pretty spectacular surprise hits!

On a side note, our youth are really starting to bond with the students of the seminary. Many youth consider this one of the most special things about this trip.  They have found that the seminary students (as well as the surrounding community) are incredibly welcoming and patient with our attempts at Spanish. Our youth say that they have found joy in the mutual teaching and learning of native languages and feel that each person is able to "share what they know." Pastor Ben says that we are not like other groups in this respect.  Many mission groups sit separately and interact very little with the students at the seminary. Emanuel (a returning graduate who has joined our group for the week) says that the seminary students are very concerned with getting their English "right".  He is glad that we are not afraid to "mess up" and encourages us to continue because it encourages a climate of risk-taking for the seminary students, as well.

Our youth (and adults) have been risk-takers when it comes to food, as well.  We have had chicharonnes (pig skin), Guatemalan tamales (way different than we are used to and served on plantain leaves), boiled green plantains, and rice and beans at every meal...even breakfast!

Tomorrow we will attend church here at the seminary, then journey to Antiqua for a day at the market. We're all looking forward to a day of sightseeing!