This morning, we woke up stiffer than usual. We ate breakfast at La Padre, where we enjoyed pancakes, freshi fruit, eggs, and bacon. Then we drove 40 minutes to the village and got to work. We finished the stone wall and leveled out the dirt. Then we learned how to make stucco. Daddy [Jamie], Momma [Susanne], Brother Chad, and others soon began to apply the mixture to the walls. That was an interesting experience, and soon we were covered in mezcla. Meanwhile, Ms. Pete, Ms. Pam, and others helped to dig a ditch to the washing facility. This was made more difficult by many rocks and roots that were in the way. 

For lunch, we ate chicken, squash, rice, and tortillas for lunch. We had coconut custard for dessert. The ladies in the village prepare for us their best! Afterward, Jacob, Lia, and I threw a tennis ball with two other boys. It was nice to see that even though one boy could only use his left hand and spoke Spanish, we could still have fun together. 

Daddy led us in a devotion on prayer, and then it was time to get back to work. We sifted graved and covered wals with stucco. Then I started taking pictures of kids. Everyone loved seeing the pictures. The kids love to give high 5’s. Then I played catch with more of the boys. We laughed and had fun. I learned that Ms. Pam is right—laughter is universal. We do not have to speak the same language to laugh and become friends. The children loved the stickers we gave them and put them all over themselves. 

Then we drove to the village where we raised money to build a well. The roads were a little bumpier. The people were very thankful. You didn’t need to speak Spanish to know that. They showed us the well and storage tank. They said the well never ran dry even when the river does. They would pump water up tot eh storage tank and from there, the water would go to their homes. 250 people use this well. I couldn’t believe that I had helped to change the lives of 250 people! The people did not fight over who controlled the water, they were just grateful for what they had. We then returned to Hotel Casa San Jose. I am amazed about how grateful these people are, even for the smallest things; things we forget about like waking up, water and air. These are truly grateful people.

I think everyone slept well last night. Everyone seemed refreshed and renewed. This morning, breakfast was a little different. Instead of rice and beans, we had pancakes, scrambled eggs with bacon, along with fruit—papaya, cantaloupe, and the sweetest bananas. 

We arrived back in Guapinol with great energy and willingness to work. We began with moving more rocks, which we can now do quite efficiently! We placed the gray water pipe, set up the rest of our rock wall and filled in the space with dirt to finish shoring up the foundation. Then we began to make stucco. We toted buckets of sand and 100lb bags of concrete, mixed them together, added water. Then, we were shown how to put the stucco on the walls. Frog, Mark, Jamie, Jacob, and the preacher took turns trying. I guess they decided to give the job to Mark and Jamie after they seemed to pick up the skill quickly. We are certainly realizing all of the conveniences of home that we don’t pay much attention to. 

A lady in the community was using a machete to chop down a (relatively) small tree. She made it look like there was nothing to it, so I decided to take a turn. Needless to say, the entire team and the community had a good laugh, but I did master the machete enough to chop a limb off that tree. 

The work began to slow down while Jamie and Mark and some of the men we are working with continued to put stucco on the wash house. The rest of us were anxious to have more work to do, so they told us to dig a ditch to connect the water supply line to the new wash building. After we did that, we were looking for another task, but began thinking, “Maybe God is waning us to stop and just be in his presence; spending time with him is an important part of this trip. We rush through our days wanting one more thing to do, one more place to go, one more person to see.” I felt like he was just saying, “Stop!”

We take so much for granted; things all around us. While visiting with our new friends in Guapinol, we have seen how thankful to God they are. They thank God for everything–even the air they breathe! I decided I need to thank him more and not go around thinking that all I have is because of what I have done. 

Jose and Rosibel prepared a wonderful lunch for us– chicken with vegetables, rice, and corn tortillas. And then… coconut pudding! After lunch, we sifted more sand, mixed more stucco, and unloaded the laundry sinks from the truck. It took about 5 men to carry them. The excitement of the ladies when they got to touch the sinks was powerful. In their excitement, they even pretended to do laundry as we took photos! 

We left work a little early to go visit the project that was built with the money that our Tweens Class raised last year. Lia, Shelby, and Jacob were so excited (and I was too). I am becoming more emotional just writing this. This was one of the most touching experiences I have ever had. The road to the site was very rugged, but there were several men from the community who met us when we finally got there. They were on the board for the water project, and the greeted us and expressed their gratitude for partnering with the to accomplish such a vital project. The project has provided water to 45 families and 250 people! 

We had to walk a little ways to the actual site, but after we arrived it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. The men were proud of it and were pleased to share it with us. We were able to look into the well that they told us was dug by hand. The kids were able to see their reflection in the water of the well! It has a gas operated pump to move the water from the well into an elevated tank that was connected to the galvanized lines that supply water to the homes. Right now, they have to walk to the well twice a day to run the pump and fill the tank. They have an electric pump that they were able to purchase with the money that we raised. They want to connect it soon so that they won’t have to keep walking down to fill the tank, but they have not yet been able to get electricity run to the pump. As we left, our translator Marcos pointed out three outhouses at the school that were a part of the same project. We are so often unaware at the need for water, a vital part of our existence that we so often take for granted. 

Today, for me, was a day spent with God. He has been showing that his greatest power is revealed when we listen to him and follow his desires for our hearts. He has an agenda greater than we could ever have for ourselves. We are able to help each other and love each other. He is everywhere, not just in one state or one country, but everywhere!

The  sun rises early in Nicaragua, at around 5:30.  We left the hotel around 7 again for breakfast at La Casa de la Pradera.  That's the same Casa de La Pradera where we have eaten breakfast and super since Monday.  They do a good job of having a different breakfast each day.  Today they served a fried egg, fried bologna, and beans & rice.  After breakfast, we stopped at a local school to see another El Porvenir project.  They had built a sanitary latrine at an elementary school.  The students were rather amused by the Americans that stopped to take pictures of their bathroom.  

We arrived at the job site around 9:30 and were amazed at the amount of work that had been accomplished while we were gone.  The men from the community were installing the tin roof.  They asked us to do some more landscaping around the facility.  We used a pick axe and a pry bar to loosen dirt and hauled it 50 yards in sacks.  We worked in this manner until 11:00am.  

At 11:oo, we went to tour Maria's house.  Maria has the nicest house in the community.  it has a tile floor and a solar panel for electricity.  In the kitchen, they were cooking tortillas over an open wood flame stove.  The El Porvenir staff explained that one of their projects is to encourage the use of more energy efficient stoves.  The stoves require less wood for cooking, which helps minimize problems with deforestation.  The stoves cost about $120 and the recipients are required to pay 10% of the cost ($12.00).  The Guapinol community does not have any new stoves, but three are on order.  

The final celebration was a grand event.  It was full of laughter (which always translates) and a few tears of joy.  There was a piñata in the shape of a cartoon character that the children (from Guapinol and from Brewer) attacked viciously.  The candy barely hit the ground before it was scooped up by eager hands.  In the closing speeches, one of the ladies fro the community [Juanita]  apologized to the El Porvenir staff because she did not believe them when they told her people would come help them.  Everyone was very grateful.  The kids loved the bead necklaces the McDoles sent.  

After lunch, we walked to the job site one last time, and the foreman was making the final connection to the water line.  The whole community helped tear down the other old rock wash stand and repurpose it as a retaining wall.  There was a genuine excitement as the water was turned on for the first time at the wash stands and in the showers.  The women were immediately washing clothes and the kids were playing in the showers.  It's hard to describe the magnitude of the impact that this facility will have on the quality of life in the community.  

Parting is such sweet sorrow.  Everyone was sad to leave the Guapinol community for the last time.  It took a while to leave as people kept stopping us to say gracious and other untranslated words of appreciation.  It has been a very rewarding and memorable trip, and it will take some time to understand the impact it will have on our own lives. 

After a journey of a couple hours, we have arrived in Granada for tonight.