This House Is Not A Home...yet!

Today following our time of prayer and breakfast on the second floor we were divided into two groups to work on two separate house builds. The homes that we build are modest by our standards...20'x16' but they are a huge blessing to the families here who have dirt homes and smaller shacks. Jordan, Bryn and I were on Rick's team and we started a build for a single mother in Ricardo's church. We comprised a team of around 20 on the site as there are now three youth teams here, 2 from New Jersey and one from South Carolina...from Alliance churches.

We were able to frame all the exterior and two interior walls as well as paint the exterior wood panel board that makes up the outside of the house. After lunch part of the group left to lead a children's program at the local church complete with puppets and all kinds of great crafts. Sharon, Rylan and Addi were involved with it.

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Psalm 127:1

This is the obvious verse for me to reflect on today as we spent time both at the beginning of our day as well as at the end to pray for the family that will live there. It is really important to the ministry as well as the churches to continue to minister to these families. We definitely want God to be the center of the home and that the family feels His love and presence. There is so much more going on here than simply building a house....

On the weekend Rylan's stomach was very unsettled, but we are glad to report tonight that he has turned the corner after three days and is starting to be his normal energetic self which is great to see so thanks for the prayers!

On Saturday we were able to hit one of the local beaches and enjoy crashing the waves in the Pacific as well as walking through the local fish market and having fun in the park. On Sunday, we were able to minister at Ricardo's church, Roca Fuerte and the kids did an amazing job again. In the afternoon we took a crack at learning a new drime as a family so we will see how that goes.

Sunday evening we were treated to a great concert by some of the local talent, El Trio and Marine who sang and played their guitars for us and the incoming youth teams. We then listened to the testimony of two of the pastors, one who ministers in a boys home and Jamin who has truly an amazing story of the miraculous as he shared how his family heard the good news while living in the very primitive city of Oaxaca.