Rainbow looms and laundry

Every day here has felt like it's included three or four days of events.

Today was another amazing day. We were back in the same area as yesterday (San Antonio)  to build the last of the houses for the week. I was working with Ainsley again and a young girl from the community, Fatima who's only 13. Ainsley and I were quite excited that we were able to see jobs that needed to be done and just did them without any instructions. We finally knew what we were doing!!!  But just as we were on a roll Phil came up and told us there was a huge group of kids around the corner wanting to make rainbow loom bracelets. Yes they have invaded El Salvador too!!!  So we got to play with the kids. We had a big crowd of kids around us wanting to learn how.....I've never made one! Haha. Thankfully they're really easy. The kids picked it up quick and one little boy made four or five of them. I help a little girl who was about 4 make one using her fingers but I did all the work.

After a bit Cary-Lynn, who lived down here for over a year, asked if we would like to go to the river to see the ladies washing clothes. Most of the ladies in our group have never seen this... I've lived it.  Off we went, with a group of kids close behind. The ladies at the river thought it was awesome that we wanted to see their ways of life. I asked one of them if we could help them, and who says no to help with the laundry!  So off came our socks and shoes and once again I was standing in a river washing clothes on a rock. It brought back some great memories of my time in Ecuador. The ladies had a great time showing is how to do things and we had a few good laughs and one of the little boys just jumped right in the water for a bath.

When we got back to the village I got to translate for a couple of interviews with families that got houses today.

The house that I started to help with in the morning was going to Sunami an her family. Sunami is 32, a single mom and has four kids; 12, 9, 5 and 1. Her mom, Victoria, lives with them as well as her niece and another teenage boy. She wouldn't say what the young boys relation was to them and I didn't press. To make money for the family she runs a small store out of her house, and she makes enough to feed everyone well. As we interviewed her we stood beside her little wood burning stove as she made tortillas for the local workers. When asked how the new house would change their lives she was talking about bugs, spiders and mice that live in her dirt was and said there was one time a snake fell on her bed too. They are excited to feel secure in the house and to stay dry during the rainy season.

The other family I interviewed was Jose (32) and Marisol (27). They have  a son, 5 and a daughter that is almost 2. For Jose he was excited for the new house, like the other lady who was concerned about bugs and mice (it was Jose who's head a mouse almost landed on yesterday) and most of all he was concerned about his house collapsing in an earthquake or just a strong rain.  He was proud that his family would be in a safe house now. And he's looking forward to working on more houses in the community and helping other families.

I have been really impressed with the sense of community in this village. Even kids like Fatima, 13, were out helping to build and the ladies were all cooking lunch for the local workers. And some just gathered around to chat or even some adults came out to make bracelets. Another neighbour came around with oranges and melons for everyone.

I got to go with a couple of guys as they visited a family that got a house a couple of weeks ago and got to see inside one of the finished houses, it was clean and cozy. So much better than what they would have had before. This was my first time in a finished house with the family moved in and settled. amazing homes for them.

A very full very fun day. Again this is such a blessing to be here and help these families in such a tangible way. And it is all glory to God.... He has laid it on the hearts of the men and women who volunteer their time to lead teams through Shelter. And so many lives have been changed as try obey that calling in their lives.

Tomorrow we will go back to San Antonio to visit the families one last time and attend a key ceremony. I'm excited to see what this is all about.

Thank you everyone for your prayers and support this has been quite the week!