At the end of the second day of work, some of us are feeling our muscles. First thing in the morning, Julia amazed us all by carrying a 100lb bag of cement up to the second story; Ed jokingly offered her a 15minute break if she brought it to the top-and before anyone could stop her, Julia had the bag of cement upstairs!
The work today focused on running electrical wiring, building forms underneath the window sills, and interior painting.
It was while we were installing the forms that we had a humbling moment. A form is the walls that contain the wet concrete while is dries and becomes solid. To make a form, we attach a board to the existing concrete block walls. The ‘Canadian’ method involved using a fancy cordless drill to predrill holes in the board, predrilling holes in the concrete wall, hammering in plugs, and then finally screwing the board to the concrete wall. This worked for the times that we tried it… until it didn’t. The ‘Belizean’ method involved using a hammer and some concrete nails… and it was faster… and it did the job just as well… oops. Our on-site Belizean contractor, “Nacho”, gracefully helped us as we tried our method, and shared with us the Belizean method for making the forms.
That story highlights several themes that make a HANDS trip so special. Firstly, the grace of our hosts to let us try our own thing first. Then they refrained from any laughter, boasting, or expressions of frustration when it did not work. It is important for us to work as equals or servants to our Belizean siblings in Christ – they know how to work with these supplies, and they know how to build in this climate. We certainly cannot ‘take over’ the project in any way.
This evening, John teBokkel led devotions and reminded us which muscle is the strongest. Focussing on James 3, we read that the tongue is the strongest muscle. The words we speak, even if the topic is not faith-related, can speak volumes about our faith in Christ. The words of ‘Nacho’ when humbly and gently explaining the Belizean method spoke volumes about his faith. May our words, may they be about electrical work, mixing concrete, or sharing faith, may they always point towards Christ.
Prayer Requests:
- Praise for God and his vast blessings
- Thankfulness for sunny weather – and shelter from the sunny weather
- Requests for continued health and safety in Belize
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