El Salvador: Day 6

I am blessed to share this experience with my daughters Kristen and Becca. 

One of the favorite parts of the week for me has been watching the unconditional love Claudia has for her five sons. Carlos (15), Wilmer (14), Pablo (11), Francisco (8), and Raoul (7) have worked side by side building their new home with us for the past 4 days. 

Their physical strength, amazing work ethic, and respect for adults is evident in all they do. Although they have no running water, no indoor kitchen or bathroom, and have to walk to the stream to get water and do laundry, they are filled with faith and joy.

Carlos describes his Mother as "always wanting the best for them." This means always going to school, doing their homework, and working very hard for what they need. She protects her children so they don't run around the neighborhood and do bad things. He also takes pride in keeping his four younger brothers safe. 

Claudia says Carlos works like an adult. Claudia's husband works to earn money during the day, so he is gone before our team arrives each day. Claudia and her four sons have provided constant construction skills, flexibility, patience, and humor with her new American friends. It's humbling to realize how much they do with so little. They have grateful hearts and faith that God will provide.

A highlight of today was a soccer game with the entire team, the “A” team host family (at Claudia’s house), and contractors and volunteers from both sites.  Kelli, Jody and all the boys from our household ended up on the same team, even though I thought Luis, a tenacious 9 year old destined to be a comedian, was going to join our team because he gave me a huge hug after I returned from the other site today.  Despite the fact that Denise was a great goalie and that Jane and Jonella had some great plays, my team (Kristen) lost 4 to 1.  In the theme of family, these 5 kids know how to work together on the soccer field as well as on the building project!  After the soccer game, we went down to see the waterfall.  Check out the photos!

Since it is the rainy season here, we have had enough rain to make Nebraskan’s jealous.  Three of the last four nights it has poured, but tonight was by far the most interesting. Since the hotel is very open, rain poured from the roof into the second floor atrium.  Unfortunately the drain couldn’t keep up and several rooms were flooded with an inch of water. The hotel staff brought up brooms, mops, and newspaper in order to control the flood.  Within a few minutes the entire team was sweeping and moping the extra water toward the drain.

Tomorrow will be our final day with the families. We are so thankful for this week and God's hands that hold us always. 

Kristen, Becca, and Maureen