"Well, it's mid July and time to make a mad dash for the pool or at least a tall, frosty glass of iced tea. But while you're swimming or sipping, think about helping. Yes, helping.
Think about being of assistance . . . your arm around the hunched shoulders of another . . . your smile saying "try again" to someone who's convinced it's curtains . . . your cup of cool water held up to a brother's cracked lips, reassuring and reaffirming."
Think about being of assistance . . . your arm around the hunched shoulders of another . . . your smile saying "try again" to someone who's convinced it's curtains . . . your cup of cool water held up to a brother's cracked lips, reassuring and reaffirming."
"C. S. Lewis once likened his role as a Christian writer to an adjective humbly striving to point others to the Noun of truth. For people to believe that Noun, we must improve our adjectives for attractive adjectives plus unselfish verbs equal faith in the Noun of truth." Chuck Swindoll.God's word mandates: "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds." (Heb. 10:23-24)
So, while you are sipping that frozen lemonade, think about how each one of us can make a difference in someone's life today.
God's blessings to you all, Jane
The days were hot and grueling on the construction site and a few thunderstorms brewed causing the river to rise significantly one morning. A raised path enabled the motorcycles to cross the river but it was a dicey affair trying to cross it by bus due to the dredging of the silt on the river bottom. Our interpreter, David narrowly missed falling into the river while moving the rocks in place allowing us to safely cross it.
It was necessary to unload the bus, cross the river by foot and re-board it on the other side. Thankfully the luggage could stay on board.
Team leader, Lois Jacobs was instrumental in starting the paper jewelry program in villa Esperanza when she saw the great need of employment for women in the village. Since March 2009, 4 women and 1 man have been gainfully employed making the jewelry out of recycled product packaging. Sales have increased to the extent where it has become necessary to employ an additional 4 women in the program. Praise the Lord! 
We taught the women new skills and some new project ideas while also giving them the hope, encouragement and the certainty that they will be guaranteed a monthly salary with a quota of work to fulfill. 
Lois shared with the women how God has blessed her and has given her many opportunities to witness to the people who purchased the jewelry. Sharing God’s love has been her great passion and was demonstrated also by the rest of the team loving the children and people they encountered this week. 
On the final day, we visited the 27 waterfalls…a great team bonding experience. With 3 non swimmers in the group it was necessary to encourage and assist each other while trying our best to battle the force of the water climbing up the falls. Sliding down or jumping off the rocks was so much easier on the way down and we were proud to see some fears conquered.
We feared that there may be a break in while we were gone because about one hour before we left for the airport, the road was completely blocked. A backhoe had dug up the hill to properly fix an ongoing leak in the water line which forced us to walk past the entire neighbourhood with our suitcases in tow to a waiting truck at the bottom of the steep hill. Many of the local people wished us a happy trip as we passed by knowing that we were leaving for an extended time and our house would be empty. 
Our closest neighbour, Pastor Jose was hired to paint and finish building the cistern while keeping watch on the house. With the extremely poor job situation in this country robberies are a common occurrence.
