Sunday, Our last day

Today was our last day, and we started out at 5:30 am with a sunrise service on the beach.

The clouds were spectacular. with the sun just barely peeking though.

Mark spoke to us,and then we had communion. It was very moving.

After the service, we had a light breakfast, and some free time until 11:30, when it was time to leave. We boarded the boat and headed for the airport.

We made it to the airport with out any problem, and were through immigration and customs with no problem at all. We said goodbye to Mark, as he was flying to another location for a couple of days.

After an uneventful flight we landed in Houston and cleared customs about 30 minutes early.

The only real problem with our trip started at this point. Kent Sapenfield received an email telling him that our flight was canceled. And sure enough it was. We spent from 7:30 until 11:30 getting tickets changed, vouchers for motel rooms, meals etc. Amy Bunch stepped up to the plate and kept everybody focused, and made sure everybody was taken care of. We never did get our luggage that night, and I for one did not smell very good. Despite a few good points, we encountered more rude and un-thoughtful people in that last 4 hours than I have encountered in a long time. Tempers were short, but everybody handled the problems well, and nothing unbecoming of Christians happened. I was really proud of our group.

I did not take any pictures of the long lines we stood in for ever, but I thing every one was back in Amarillo by late afternoon on Monday.

Saturday. A day to rest and rewind

We started the day at 5:30 this morning as we loaded up the people mover and headed to the coast.

We had a boat waiting for us at 7:30 to take us out to the island of Spanish Lookout Caye.

After about a 1 hour trip, we made it to the island. It was really nice.

The Sappenfield kids went scuba diving out at the barrier reef, and most of of the rest of the kids went to a different location and snorkeled.

They all had a great time.

We had a great lunch of chicken strips and French fries. I think everyone was glad to have something a little more familiar.

After lunch it was free time until sunset, when we met at the beach hoping for a sunset, but it was too cloudy. We had a nice service, with Mark asking us how our concept of missions ans ministry has changed.

We then had a great dinner.

Sunrise service in the morning at 5:30, and then to the airport

Friday, Our last day in the Valley of Peace.

Cockateels

Today we loaded up the vehicles and headed to the site of the house for a dedication. When we got there everyone took a tour of the house.

Family Room

Bedroom #1

Bedroom # 2 with Bed frame

Family Room

The outside

Where the ladies hang out between cooking meals

Laundry room

The outside of the house

The kitchen (oven) That grey powder is ashes

The Pantry

Looking for snacks

The entire kitchen building

The Sapenfields. What a great family!

Then we had a little dedication service with Brad Ingram, and the committee leader Milkar, and the family members of the household. It was great.

Then we all encircled the house, holding and and then we all prayed outloud simultaneously. That was incredible. To our ears it sounded like Chaos, but to God, I’m sure it was pure harmony.

Then we moved to the Soccer field for a completion.

The final score was 5 to 2, so we at least scored against them, so it was not as bad as it might have been. The field was very soggy, and the rains came, so we cut short the game.

Kent, Jason, Ron, and I then finished install 4 windows in the ‘building’ next to the new house.

Just as we were finishing, the bottom fell out of the clouds again, and we scrambled to get everything loaded into the bus. We were pretty soaked by the time we finished.

After loading up we headed into Belmapan to eat at the ‘Mercado’. This was fun, but again it started to rain, and we were slowed down.

By the time we finished lunch, it was too late to get into the Mayan ruins, so Kent led us on a tour of the Mennonite country side. We stopped at a local Ice cream shop made with fresh milk from the dairy right next door.

Finally back to the Banana Bank lodge for dinner, which just happened to be by candlelight since the electricity went out.

For prayer requests, one of ther cooks burned her arm tonight pretty badly. Twyla bandaged her up and help get dinner out to us, so please pray for her.

Also pray for traveling saftgey as we leave early in the morning to go to Spanish Lookout Caye, and for the emotions that everyone is feeling as we leave these people.

Thursday the last full day of work

Today is Thursday, and again we divided up teams. We actually split into 3 teams today.

One team went back to the Valley of Peace. They finisned trimming the exterior corners of the house, the exterior of the doors, nailed up the last of the masonite siding, and installed the interior trim. They then hung the doors, and the house was complete. Just as they were finishing they ran out of gas in the generator, so they had to run get some more. Then just as they finished, the Bottom fell out of the clouds, and it poured for several hours, so that was the end of the work time today there. I was not at this project today, so I have no pictures. However one very interesting thing apparently happened today. Now remember, I was not there, and am only repeating what I heard, so here goes the story.

Where we are building this house, it is located right up to the edge

of the Jungle, and there is quite a bit of wildlife around, and there are lots

of kids from the families running around playing in the yard.

Well apparently Carissa was being very vigilant, and notice a Jaguar

Sneaking up on the house, and the unsuspecting Kids. So she apparently

dove out of the window, and rolled down the bank, scaring the Jaguar,

and saving the day and the kids. Now, I cannot verify much of this

story, but the marks are on her body to verify at least part of this story.

The second group went to the Hillside Community Library, and added another coat of paint to the Gable ends of the building, and did some marking on the shelves. Again I do not have any pictures from this group,

So the third group went back to Ontario, to finish the stage, and a few other projects. I went with this group, because I wanted to see if they really were working. And sure enough they had been busy the last few days. The stage was up and about 95% of it was decked. Kenny swung by the lumberyard and picked up the material we needed to finish the deck, so we were able to get that finished. Then we also dug 15 - 3’ deep holes and installed 4” x 6” x 12’ columns to support the canopy that will go over the stage and seating area. That is all we got done there because all of the ladders were at the other sites, so we will leave the rest of this project for the next group coming in.

The Stage

The Stage

Setting the additonal columns for the Canopy

Setting the additonal columns for the Canopy

Brad and Zack setting the stairs

Brad looking for work

Kenny and Chad

We also formed and poured a concrete landing for the stairs going up to the second floor.

Just as we finished the posts and decking, and pouring the concrete, we got the same cloudburst coming over us. It thundered right over us shaking the building it was so loud, and rained for about 1 hour, so we framed up an interior wall inside to get us through the day.

At devotionals tonight, we spent some intentional time affirming one another, and talking about things that had happened to us. Brad and Tim led us in worship, and it was a sweet time.

For prayer requests, we had a few small injuries, a toe that was smashed, and the jaguar incident, but nothing serious, but please prayer for continued safety. Also Brad will leave in the morning to head back to Amarillo for a wedding, and to be with his family, so please pray for traveling safety.

Tomorrow we will touch up a few little loose ends, and at 9:00 have a dedication service for the house. It will be very exciting! Then we will all head down to the local soccer field, and apparently there is an ongoing competition between Hillside and the locals kids. Last March I heard it was very one sided. Think the plan is to play the kindergarten classes this time, and maybe we can have a respectable showing. We also have water balloons, and a few other things to give away at the park.

Wednesday The work continues

Today we again split up and went to the same 2 locations as yesterday.

Tim Hagen took a group over to Ontario to finish the stage. They reported that they finished as far as they could, until they ran out of material. Again no pictures from there.

Kent and Ron's group went back to the house, and we had a great day. No rain at all, and unfortunately very little cloud cover, so it was very hot!

We finished all of the siding, finished the roof, and started putting masonite paneling on the interior walls. We trimmed all of the windows. It was a great day!

Ron finally got to join us.

The siding crew

I'm not sure what was going on here!

Kent framing the roof

Notice the bare feet!

Jason and Ron attaching the roof sheets

The girls haning the Masonite

More masonite hanging

Again the local ladies fixed us a great lunch. After lunch, the head of the Valley of Peace Benevelence Committee, Milakar spoke to us and told us the history of this area. It was very informative.

A Guest for Lunch

Tomorrows Lunch?

After Dinner tonight we went on a 3 hour horsback ride through the VERY DARK jungle! It was way cool. Part way through the ride we had a campfire and roasted Marshmellows and Hot dogs, and had cold cokes.

The Campfire

Brad in Action

Pray that we continue to develop relationships with all of the people we encounter, for dry conditions, and for a breeze to help us cool off.