Day 7
Glory to God in the Highest!!
Good Day Friends! This is Michelle reporting today. It is hard to believe that we have only been here for a week!! We feel like we have lived a lifetime. Even though, we kind of stick out around here, : ) we are starting to feel very at home.You can be very proud of our young people; they are working so hard! And are representing our diocese well. They have all fallen in love with their host families (and I think they are fond of us too.) It will be difficult to leave these beautiful people. Today was a work day!! We left in three shifts to go to the work site. We are working in temperatures which must be close to 39 degrees. But we are okay!! We drink and drink and drink! Sometimes we work in 10 minute shifts. Everyday we have some health challenges, but nothing serious; upset stomachs, ear infections, coughs, sore muscles. But we have numerous doctors amongst our host families and we are being looked after!! No need for worry!

I will try to give you a picture of what our work days are like...While some work on the actual carpentry end of things, the rest of us support. We have carried all the bricks from the top of a hill down to the job site which is at the bottom of the hill and IN the forest. This was done bucket brigade style and took us almost 2 full days. Today we carried the dry cement powder from the road thru a small swap area and up a hill to where it was needed. We each carry as we are able...I personally can manage 2 shovel fulls, but with many of us working on it, we got it done. We have also begun to dig, (by hand with axe and shovel) what will be a 15 foot deep 4 x 4 pit which will house the septic tank. We are about half done. We had to first remove a tree stump in our way which we hacked away at for days. They named it "Tim" and today, ours was victory over "Tim"!! He is gone!! In between while we are resting in shifts in the shelter, there is always at least one or two who are having THEIR day to not feel well. They lay out in the shelter and are fanned and cared for by their peers. We are surround by children ALL the time. They sing to us, teach us games and help us carry. Most afternoons there is a baby asleep in the arms of one of our young people. We go  visiting at the homes all around us. (there are about 12 homes in this little clearing) Our group has adopted an amazing young man named "Pakkio" who has made it his mission to be our personal guide. He works with us on the job site. He entertains us with his Micheal Jackson impressions,  He ensures we are all on the bus. He goes everywhere with us and has become our fast friend. Yesterday he gifted me with his rosary. I shall cherish it always. The women in the village bring us our lunch and a snack each day and help look after those of us who are under the weather. Father Dan and Father Rey have worked so hard to ensure all goes well while we are here and that these projects get completed on time. We could not  do it with out them. And we are having so much fun with them!! They are MACHINES!! They never stop!!

Our evening tonite was spent with our host families in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. It was a beautiful night! Well... it is after midnite and tomorrow is a very full day as we go to the job site during the day and to a youth festival at night!

Blessings from Daet!!

Quote of the day: "I love my Jesus!" (Pakkio)
Highlight of the day: The great progress that we made at the work site today.
Prayer request: For continued stamina. We have 2 days left....and we need the cement to dry!! Fast!!