Through the night rain fell steadily, with periodic deluges which wakened me several times. All I could think was,”This doesn't sound good!” It was still coming down in sheets at 7 am when I was to lead the morning 'Inspiration Time', which is normally held outdoors, so we gathered in one room. I spoke on Micah 6:8, focusing on the meaning of 'justice' in our modern consumer society, ending with a joint reading of a 'covenant prayer' composed by John Wesley in the 18^th century. To sum it up briefly, we must share the earth's resources more equitably and help the less able to achieve the basic requirements of a dignified life.



Interior of House at 9 a.m.

Exterior of House at 9 a.m.

Though our bodies were dampened our spirits were not as we boarded our bus to head off for the days work. A team of painters was dropped at the home of Pastora Nieves, a single mom with 3 'teenagers', where we were to paint the inside and outside of the building. This seemed rather unlikely to happen, since it was still pouring rain when we started on the inside. In less than 2 hours, we had primed the whole of the inside – living room, 3 bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom!! The rain let up and just enough sun dried the exterior to allow priming. We then left to join with the second team for lunch at Villa Liberacion, where 2 team members had spent the morning cleaning up a medical clinic in preparation for painting in the afternoon, while the remainder of the team worked with 50 children to make bead necklaces.  For entertainment they danced the 'Hokey Pokey' and played basketball.



Interior of House at 3 p.m.

Exterior of House 3:15 p.m.

The 'Bead Necklace' Group of Girls (and friends)

 Following a nourishing lunch of ham and cheese sandwiches, buns with jam and a banana, chased with cold water, we divided into new groups for the afternoon. Seven of us returned to the house painting while the rest stayed behind – some to paint the clinic and others to work with some older girls in the community and do fingernail painting. The weather cooperated enough for us to finish the 'colour coat' on the house by 3 o'clock, followed by hugs all around. The 'Liberacion' group also achieved their goals and we boarded the bus for 'home' by 4 o'clock, thankful that we able to accomplish so much on a day that had seemed doomed at the outset.
  

The 'Fingernail' Group of Girls