Los Algodones

Yesterday morning the rain prevented us from going to any of the work sites. The roads are so bad and in both Ascension and Los Algodones, there is a creek without a bridge on the road to the villages. Most of the time there is no problem driving through the water because it is only a trickle. However, it was too high yesterday morning.

By the afternoon, the water was low enough that we could take trucks through but not the bus. So, we headed out to Los Algodones to do the milk ministry. This is where we give a cup of milk and an egg to each of the children. We also sing songs with them and play games.

When I got off the bus I was immediately looking for mi amiga Roseanna. She is ten years old and really touched my heart on the last trip. She touched my heart again this trip. When I saw her she came running to me and hugged me for the longest time. It was hard to fight back the tears. A few minutes later, she took me to her 'home' to find something for me. She dug in a corner and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper that had a picture and some writing that she had made for me. I couldn't understand the words, but the heart with her name and my name conveyed the meaining.

It was so hard to see her 'home'. My bedroom in my house is larger than her 'home'. I need to find the translator to find out how many people live in her 'home'.

Roseanna and I then walked up to the mission house because I needed to talk to Sandy (a local missionary currently living in the village) about making the beads in Los Algodones today. When Roseanna and I were walking back, she made sure I saw the new playground equipment. She was so excited about it. Thank you Andy and Cobbie!!!

Next, we did the milk ministry. All the time I was fighting back the tears. However, when I saw Jeison, I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. Jeison is a boy with cerebral palsy who my Bible study group helped fund a surgery to help him. Jeison still can't walk on his own, but he was 'walking' with the help of Jon Glidden. I never got the chance to meet him the first visit, but I am told that he has come a long way even though he still can't walk on his own.

Today it is not raining. If you are reading this, please pray that at least during the day the rains would hold off. There is a hurricane headed for Puerto Rico. It shouldn't hit us, but it could bring more rain.

Today we are headed to Los Algodones. I will be working with two ladies there on the beads and the rest of the team will be working on the church.