Today was a great day. We were basically done with all the buildings before today so we could concentrate on the dedications today without distraction. We are so blessed to have so many people back at home who have made the commitment financially to sponsor homes. I wished so much you could see the look on the faces during the dedication. The hugs that they give, the tears that they shed, and the fact that several people in the village committed their life to the Lord made it all worth while.
The fact that there are so many people and faces that after today will become a memory in our hearts makes it a bittersweet day. But I think lives have been changed both North and South of the border. We will all go home wondering why God has blessed us so much while so many people work so hard for such a meager existence. We will think of the ladies spending every day grinding out corn and making tortillas. We will think of the children running down the rocky hills barefoot and of the kids who look about five years old carrying their brother or sister around on their back. We will think of the men and women carrying bundles of logs and sticks on their back which we found out later we could barely lift. We will think of the 87 year old lady who lived at the bottom of the hill who broke her hip three months ago and is still having a great deal of pain. We will think of the tears shed by both the natives and the gringos as they get the Bible, the prayer shawl, and the other housewarming gifts.
We have been so blessed over the last week that words cannot express it. Those who have to go home and try to explain it to their friends and family who are not here have a difficult task. The people met in the village, the taste of the dust, the beauty of the volcano as it rumbles and we see the silvery glow of lava going down the side, and the building of relationships on the team is unexplainable.
I am so thankful for those who helped us in this week. Max, Samuel, Luisa, Amanda, John, Paul, and all the rest have truly been a blessing to us. I pray that we will have been as much of a blessing to them and to the people of this country.
Pray for traveling safety as we go home. We will see you this weekend.
Randy Ellens