Back on track...Wednesday March 18th
Hey everyone!
Today was a great day for both teams. The medical team started the day out going to a banana plantation that provides bananas for Dole! We were given a tour of the plantation and learned the process of harvesting bananas. We learned it takes 9 months to grow one bunch (100 bananas)- UNBELIEVABLE! We learned the extreme amount of hard work that goes into placing yummy bananas in our stores each day. It was neat to see that the bananas are actually broken off the stem with a string rather than a knife.
After the plantation, the medical team departed for Santa Rita and the Good Shepherd village. The community was AMAZING! They have so much love to spread around. From the moment we arrived, there was a trail of little kids running after us because they were so excited to have us there. The MAMA team has been involved with the community for many years, and it was uplifting to learn how much the community has grown in four years; as Carmen mentioned she was able to return four years later and feel God´s presence. We were able to help 117 individuals, from ages 26 days old to 74 years old. The kids were so much fun, and Tanya, Jake, Colleen, and Brittany felt very connected to them all. Kathy had even had a dream the night before that Jake was feeding pieces of his sandwich to all the children. Rolando and Sandy later commented on how much promise they saw in the community. We encountered a very strong woman who touched all of our hearts, she has 12 children and her husband just passed away. She has no job, and three of the children she took in from her niece to raise. She was unsure how she was going to provide for her family, but she was still a strong light in the community. Karen was amazed that the children took their worm medicine with such conviction- even though they did show some distaste afterwards! The community is so strong, and you could sense they had an understanding how important it was to care for their health in order to be strong for the others they live with. It still amazes the team that despite what little material possessions the individuals of the communities we visit have, they are rich with their faith for God and give freely and unselfishly. The pure spirit of the community uplifted us all after two long days working thus far.
The construction team had a very difficult day. They spent most of the morning hauling lumber up a very steep, long (and sometimes trecherous) hill. They were able to erect one wall and hope to get much more accomplished tomorrow. The children of the village are very interested in their work, and very helpful as they try to play where their building (hahaha). Steve and Bob returned home with very sore muscles, but otherwise had an injury free day (unlike the day before when they were shocked by a frayed wire-ouch!) They are getting a great tan though! :-) And lots of exercise too!
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we reach the end of our week!
Submitted by: Colleen Bish and Sandy Gemmell
Today was a great day for both teams. The medical team started the day out going to a banana plantation that provides bananas for Dole! We were given a tour of the plantation and learned the process of harvesting bananas. We learned it takes 9 months to grow one bunch (100 bananas)- UNBELIEVABLE! We learned the extreme amount of hard work that goes into placing yummy bananas in our stores each day. It was neat to see that the bananas are actually broken off the stem with a string rather than a knife.
After the plantation, the medical team departed for Santa Rita and the Good Shepherd village. The community was AMAZING! They have so much love to spread around. From the moment we arrived, there was a trail of little kids running after us because they were so excited to have us there. The MAMA team has been involved with the community for many years, and it was uplifting to learn how much the community has grown in four years; as Carmen mentioned she was able to return four years later and feel God´s presence. We were able to help 117 individuals, from ages 26 days old to 74 years old. The kids were so much fun, and Tanya, Jake, Colleen, and Brittany felt very connected to them all. Kathy had even had a dream the night before that Jake was feeding pieces of his sandwich to all the children. Rolando and Sandy later commented on how much promise they saw in the community. We encountered a very strong woman who touched all of our hearts, she has 12 children and her husband just passed away. She has no job, and three of the children she took in from her niece to raise. She was unsure how she was going to provide for her family, but she was still a strong light in the community. Karen was amazed that the children took their worm medicine with such conviction- even though they did show some distaste afterwards! The community is so strong, and you could sense they had an understanding how important it was to care for their health in order to be strong for the others they live with. It still amazes the team that despite what little material possessions the individuals of the communities we visit have, they are rich with their faith for God and give freely and unselfishly. The pure spirit of the community uplifted us all after two long days working thus far.
The construction team had a very difficult day. They spent most of the morning hauling lumber up a very steep, long (and sometimes trecherous) hill. They were able to erect one wall and hope to get much more accomplished tomorrow. The children of the village are very interested in their work, and very helpful as they try to play where their building (hahaha). Steve and Bob returned home with very sore muscles, but otherwise had an injury free day (unlike the day before when they were shocked by a frayed wire-ouch!) They are getting a great tan though! :-) And lots of exercise too!
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we reach the end of our week!
Submitted by: Colleen Bish and Sandy Gemmell
posted by Bob Moyer at
3/18/2009 11:23:00 PM
3 Comments:
Thanks for the updates! It is wonderful how you are seeing God despite the other sad sights. We are praying!
Barb
Hey Guys!
Mom and Colleen gret job on the blog! I'm glad you had a bgreat day! Tell jake that it was kind of him to give some of his sandwich! good luck today! i love u
OLIVIA
It's great to read your updates. I will appreciate all the bananas I eat a lot more now! God's continued strength to the whole team. We'll look forward to hearing more stories when you return.
Ken
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