Day 2, The invasion

Day two - The invasion

The start of day 2 had a group of guys ready to get something done, but told that in the morning we were going to just pack our things for the mountains and organize clothes we brought to give out. Once we overcame the shock of a much slower moving place that we are used to, we did manage to get a few small projects to do at the mission base. We then were given a tour of the base. One of the places we saw was where a group of women meet daily to make baskets out of pine needles. This is one ministry that is run here. It gives women, mothers, the opportunity to have some income in an area that has little opportunity for them otherwise. I began to see some of the things that make this place so special, and important. Many women are caught in a position where they are dependant on the men in the culture, men who often have notonly a wife, but a couple of girlfriends on the side, and offer little assistance to the women who mother their children. After the tour of the base, we took a walk through Yamaranguila, the small town where the base is located. The town was simple, had dirt streets and few businesses. The school was the nicest building there, but the kids that were at the school seemed well from a distance. The hardest part of the walk was passing an orphanage, not because of the conditions, but because we were all ready to get something done and just seeing the kids made us want to do something! So it was after lunch that we loaded up for the invasion. The plan was to help complete a few roofs and then to spend some time with the people who live there. Just arriving at this place was powerful. Another world from what we have seen. The people greeted us as we came in, happy to see the van pull up, the sign of people coming to help them with things they can not do on their own. This little girl grabbed Nick the minute we were out of the van and walked him the entire street to where we were working. A little bit of fun right from the start. Also in the picture you can see two houses, a contrast of what has been there and what teams like us come there to build. It was great to see such a difference being made. Self promotion, and proof I did work while I was there! It was fun to interact with the people at the invasion, and great to spend some time finishing a couple of roofs. While there I asked how they know where to start when the ministry goes into a place like the Invasion. It wasinteresting to hear that the ministry in no way tries to decide what the needs are. Each community has a leader, and the ministry leaders ask the community leader for a list of needs, and they start to fulfill them. There was truly hope in this area, children who were learning and have hope for a better future. How awesome to be a part of that.