2 Projects down and 2 to go!!!

So we had planned to do one room/kitchen per day...
but with a team of 9 Guatemalan experienced carpenters
and an eager, wonderful, and flexible group from the USA-
we kicked some construction butt!
(Sorry for the blunt expression, but there's no better way to put it!)

Here's how the day went:

7:30 am- Loading up the van with the construction materials 

for Francisca Pilar's new room...

8:00 am- Arriving & unloading at the construction site...

9:00 am- Corner posts up and bases in place!

12:30pm- Only the roof is left to put on!

4:00pm- Room is finished!  

Francisca Pilar had tears of thankfulness in her eyes throughout the whole day.

Although she is "alone", widowed, and at the age 

where her parents and other relatives are no longer with her, 

hopefully today she understood a deeper reality...

that God is always with us and will never forget us.

A deep and heartfelt thank you to all who helped

in reaching out to Francisca Pilar in her need!

Onto project number 2...

 

I am happy to introduce you to Dominga and Marcelo Guoz (ages 80 and 87).
Please don't tell me that this is not the cutest oldest couple you have ever seen??!

As you can see above in the photo on the right,
they were in need of a new kitchen.

So today at 9:30 am-
Another group was beginning to transport the materials
to Dominga and Marcelo's new kitchen construction site.

"Many hands make light work!"

Even the "smallest" and "simplest" of tasks were such a big help
to make the incredible progress we made today!!!

11:00 am- (Above right picture) Old kitchen demolished and new posts secured.

(Above left): Remains of the old kitchen charred from smoke.
Next project for this elderly couple will be putting in a stove with a chimney!

More pictures of the construction progress
of Dominga & Marcelo's new kitchen...

 

... and of course,
why not do a little painting lesson
with the grandkids hanging around as we work?!

4:15pm- Kitchen is finished!

To see the sparkle in Marcelo's eyes
and to hear Dominga say over and over "thank you" in the Mayan dialect
was enough for all the hard work and efforts.
I think all involved would agree that it was a blessed and very joy-filled day...
God is never outdone in generosity!

The following photos are of some of our "random" moments from today...
please don't ask about the van.
It was all I had in order to run errands
and get extra materials that we were lacking.

So how the heck are you supposed to fit 8 boards that are 10 feet long
into a van that is probably only 6 feet long?!

With a lot of joy, optimism, determination...
and by asking some random guys that you find walking by
to come and help you sit on the boards while you drive
so the boards don't fall out of the trunk which has the door open!

4:30pm- Quitin' time!!!

We are all little exhausted.... definitely nasty dirty and sweaty,

but our hearts are filled with joy to have truly given all we have-

working together for the good of others.

Thank you Jesus for such a great opportunity to serve You!

p.s. I really don't like to drive with the doors open and people hanging out of the car...

just for the record! :)