We are about half way through our first group and things are going well. The six summer staffers are working out great. The two construction supervisors (Aaron and Alee) and I are getting along wonderfully and they are learning how to do things super-fast! This has already freed me up a little bit during the days (I was able to go eat fish with Leo and his mechanic buddies again yesterday for a long lunch and trust Aaron and Alee to cover the site).

And it is definitely God’s provision that I have more help than ever before on construction, because now that I know a lot of people in town I am being called upon for other tasks. Sometimes I would rather be placing wall panels (like when I had a neighbor of the family we are building for come by and ask for a house. I went down to her house with Peluchi and upon seeing the block construction of her house had to explain to her that we are trying to provide one good room to every family in town and therefor can’t build for her), but other times they can be really good interruptions.
For instance, last night I was about to head with the group down to the plaza (a fast-soccer court and playground) when Fernando grabbed ahold of me and went into a quick story about his Dad (Rrego, he and his family received our first house last summer) needing a level for a project. I couldn’t quite understand the project and so asked Fernando if his dad was home and if I could go and talk to him about it. Fernando said yes and so we walked together to his house. Along the way Fernando asked me (for the second time in about as many weeks) when I was going to make more of ‘my bread’ (referring to the banana bread) and come by to visit the family (I haven’t been over to his house for a couple of months, maybe more).
When I got there Rrego showed me the back of the house where he was digging a septic hole. He needs a level for some of the concrete work he will do on it. I told him I could let him borrow one of ours and that if Fernando would walk back to the church with me I could give it to him right away. We started to leave and Rrego made some comment to the extent of “going so soon?”, and I realized how impoliet I was being to not sit down.

So I sat and watch a couple of Spanish soap-operas with them and chatted about their new puppy, Rrego’s job, this week’s building project, and how language school went for me (Rrego and I hadn’t talked much since I left for school and he was impressed that my spanish was so much better). At one point Rrego asked me to talk to Fernando about treating his mom better (apparently Fernando, like a typical 13 year old has started to be a little rebellious. Though I had also heard rumor a while back that he had started ‘cutting’, a terrible practice among some teens down here too apparently. But I didn’t bring this up since it was only rumor). I talked to him about how it is God’s way that we should honor and respect our parents. That this is a hard thing to do as someone gets to be his age, but that this is what God wants for children and their parents. And that while most of us aren’t perfect towards our parents, God sees our hearts and is please when we try to obey and respect them. Also I told him it seems to me that it is hard to be a parent and that they love him very much. To this Rrego nodded his head, which I felt was very significant (it is difficult for males here to show affection to their kids).
Later Rrego asked me if I liked grilled beef with guacamole (which of course I said yes to). He invited me to come over this Sunday night for a carne asada with his family and I asked Fernando if he would like me to bring cookies or bread. He wanted banana bread so I will be making some of to take over this weekend.

Lastly, please be in prayer for me as I go with Rodolfo and Carlos to visit a little town next to Saltillo (about and hour and a half from Croc). YouthFront is in the very early stages of considering opening up a sister site to Croc and we are going to visit a missionary connection Carlos has there to see if this could be a possible site for us. Pray that God guides us and also pray for Aaron and Alee as they lead the construction site by themselves today (Aaron was a construction supervisor in 2005 and also this day of construction (mudding the walls) is one of our least complicated, but still I’m sure they would appricate your prayers). Thanks.