Well, the team started out really early this morning since we were all concerned that we might not get the playground assembled before we left. The morning was cooler because of a wonderful breeze. However, as the day progressed it got very hot with very few clouds in the sky. Thursday the temperature got to 109 degrees and I am sure today was a match. Everyone looked quite a bit redder when the day was done.
Early in the day as we were starting to work on the playground, a 13 year old boy by the name of Eduardo started hanging out and watching. Russ and Johnnie started sharing with him. Jacob and I joined in to share our personal stories of God’s salvation and grace. Eduardo listened attentively and then eagerly prayed to accept Christ. Raul joined us to be sure there would be followup
Dave, Tom, Russ, Josue, Jacob, Alec, and i stayed on the project for the entire day. Dave had opportunity to talk with one of the workers, Antonio, again today. With Julio translating, Antonio was able to hear about Christ’s love and forgiveness. He prayed for Christ’s forgiveness and became a new creation!!! We broke for lunch at about 1 pm but ate at the project.
Briane, Shanon, Kristin, and Anne joined us mid-afternoon to give us much needed help to finish assembling the playground equipment. They had been working at the nutrtion clinic all morning cleaning and preparing meals. Anita has been so thankful that she has had such wonderful help with getting the basic needs of the children met. My hat off to these ladies for their patience and dedication to such a wonderful act of service.
As the afternoon faded. we began to see the probablity of completing the assembly of the playground equipment. The two towers were positioned in place. The bridge was lifted into place and secured. The rope ladder submitted into it’s proper place. The regular slide was a breeze. But then there was the tubular turbo slide–that was another story! Patience almost ran thin as several of us struggled to discover the way it should be assembled (many times in this project the assembly instructions have been less than helpful)–nothing a hammer and crow bar couldn’t fix. With much work we managed to get the tub slide in place. Then there was the beast of the I-Beam for the swings. Got it done!!
It was now after 4pm. Excited kids were starting to gather (more like a mob or wave since the get out of school about 4pm). Now we discovered that the monkey bars were not going to assemble the way they were supposed to. HAH!!
Waalaa!!! Out with the skill saw, a couple of greengos and Hondurans, and it was in place. As we were finishing and cleaning up, a lot of people were gathering outside the gates. Tom and Julio were sharing with a circle of kids that had gathered at the gate. Christian, a 12 year old boy who had been hanging around all day, decided it was time to open his heart to Christ and followed Tom and Julio in prayer. Tom returned to the play ground to get a group photo. As he went back out to be sure Raul connected with Christian, Leonardo, a 30-year old who had been listening, came up to Tom and said he wanted to accept Christ also. Wow, what a demonstration of God working. Leonardo actually lives in Choluteco but rides the bus out to Ciudad Nueva every day to work. With Raul’s help he will be able to start attending the Choluteca church this Sunday.
As the sun was setting and dusk approached, the entire team, Raul, Pastor Giavoni and his wife, and David our coordinator gathered for a special prayer to dedicate the playground project. We prayed that God would use the work as a testimony and opportunity for the building of relationships in the community that would lead to spiritually changed lives.
What a week!!! What a day!!! We are all excited about completing the project that God had led us to be a part of. Thanks for all of the support and prayer from you folks at home. We will be seeing you very soon.
Paul