Day Dos
From the Group who worked at the school (written by Shelley Sassenberg):
Arrived at the school in Santos Pamba this AM, and we were immediately swarmed by little hands and feet. The kids overwhelmed us with hugs and very shy smiles. They would not let go of our hands! We ended up swinging one of the little girls, and soon after, half of the school was lining up to be swung!
Getting down to work, we layed some adobe block up a slippery slope of stairs that had previously turned into a river from all the rain. This will enable the little children and older people to make it up the hill to the church from school. In the middle of it all, it rained! So we worked in the mud.
We were asked in the middle of our work to visit the classes and introduce ourselves. We talked a little to the children. It started out with names, went to a hangman game on their chalkboard, sang songs(Jesus loves the little children & Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!), then Karen was able to read the Bible en espanol! Chaolo(our interpreter) aked them questions! What a blessing to share the Good Word!
At the end of our excursion, we met a Quichua lady cooking food outside in a huge pot. “What was she cooking?” We were curious. Turned out to be good ol’ cow intestines…yes! She offered up some grub and a couple of us were daring enough to try! …Carson, Karen and Shelley, that is….we’ll find out later tonight if our intestines can digest those intestines! “Was it good, you ask?” Let’s say we’ve found our new Quito chewing gum!
Blessings, Conchita(Shelley), Carson, Karen, Courtney, Kaleigh, Alex, Candice
From the Group who worked at the Community Center (written by Paul Sassenberg):
First, we just want to thank you for your prayers. Following all the demo work of yesterday, we actually began to rebuild and construct courses of block in order to frame in the four windows. When we arrived the sun was beating down and when we left we were all wet from the rain… this is a typical day so far. At the community center everyone pitched in right way in different ways, all lending to the possible completion in a couple days. The forman (cave man Greg) was leading the way with making decisions that have future implications for the rest of the work to be completed. Caveman, Paul, Brenda (missionary), Michael & Cindy (missionaries), Shel (part-timer), Jeff, Mr. White (Old-man River), and Angela all commenced in laying block. Christian and Eric even had a job to do…breaking rocks in order to fill in holes in the existing block. Old-man River was mostly working the mixing of the concrete; started by digging a ditch and mixing in in the ground.
We all love the work we are doing and feel very blessed just to be serving the community of Santos Pamba, and lending our skills to its end. There is more work we want and need to complete, but we are running into a few road blocks with the locals and what they actually want. Our prayer is that decisions are made soon so we are enabled to complete as much work as possible. We also pray that more curious folks from the local community find there way over to our construction site.
The bus ride up to the site is definitely an adventure.
Until tomorrow (if the internet is working),
Greg, Eric, Greg, Paul, Angela, y Jeff
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It is Wednesday night here guys and I have just caught up on all that you all are doing. Sue Bartlett and I have just finished up the text on the Alpha Trip’s book which really adds meaning to your blog. I guess my encouragement would be to “do not grow weary in well doing.” Despite the road blocks, rain, and fatigue, you all are the hands and feet of Christ for these folks. May your hearts be enlarged, your walk forever deepened,your attitude Christlike, and your intestines “flushed” quickly! Got juice??? Love you all from afar and am praying for you,
kathy
You all sound so excited and I can feel your determination and excitement in every word!! Praying for you!
Sabrina
You can tell from the pictures the kids are excited you are there! Enjoy spreading God’s word to others and making a difference in the life of those you are touching. Get some rest. We are praying for you. Praying for good weather and that you will be able to accomplish great work! Kaleigh we miss you, your girls at church said they missed you tonight and asked about you.
Hello everybody!!! It was great seeing that your work has started, and you all seem to be enjoying it so much. It was so much fun looking at the pictures you posted of the children. Their faces seemed to be glowing!!! Stay strong and let God lead you. Tell Eric and Alex that Ms Sue says Hi and I hope they will have some stories for VBS since I have missions. How exciting to have our very own missionaries!!! Keeping you all in my prayers
Sue
Praise the Lord, great things He is doing! Great leadership, Jeff White. We continue to pray for you and Team Dos.
Exciting to read your update. Hard to imagine the cold wetness you are experiencing.
“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
Looking forward to your next update!
Jeanne’
AKA: Angela’s momma
We’re praying for you guys!
One thing that jumps out at me are the children. Not just the local kids, but the impact that this experience will have on the Fulton kids and the stories and lessons that Paul and Shelley will share with Gabby and Sammy in the future.
It’s the seeds that are planted in experiences like this that will flourish and build God’s kingdom in ways we may never fully understand.
Love from your A2 family,
David Cook
Good to see what great things you are accomplishing all through God. Alex and Eric I love seeing you in the pictures and can’t wait to hear about your trip when you come back. Keep up the wonderous work and God Bless you all.
It’s awesome to see a team God put together doing the work of the ministry. I pray for you guys to have divine opportunities through your humble service.
The Bridge Builder Poem
An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned, when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.
“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim, near,
“You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide-
Why build you a bridge at the eventide?”
The builder lifted his old gray head:
“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,
“There followeth after me today,
A youth, whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm, that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.”
Author: Will Allen Dromgoole
Thinking about you guys! Don’t work Old Man River too hard!
God is going before you and is with you all the time. We love to see your pictures, the construction work, but more than that, the impact you are making with the families there. We are praying mightily for you that God will work great miracles and wonders while you are there. We love you.
Joyce Bruce
TEAM DOS
I continue to rejoice in the providence of God in the genesis of our Santos Pamba mission. As I see Karen and others with the children, I am delightfully transformed into those rooms knowing I have been there. I’m sure the kids had a great time with “Rudolph”! We used “God is So Good” and “Jesus Loves Me”. They’ll sing with you in Spanish and English. TEAM DOS, soak in God’s blessing to have this opportunity to be where you are. You are a part of God’s providence to this community AND Faith Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, Texas. – Kermit
It is a great work for the Lord that you are doing. Keep the faith. Trust Him to break down the roadblocks. Just continue to be willing to be used by Him.
KALEIGH!!!! We miss you!!!! Looks like ya’ll are doing some good work out there! We’re proud of you and love you lots!!! Can’t wait to hear all about it!