A team from Winkler, Manitoba was the first group here for 2008. A team from Winkler had been coming each year for the past 5 years while Pan de Vida was in it's infancy of being built. This year a few of the group decided to come and make it a family event. So everyone in the group is related in one way or another.
As they come now and are staying in the visitor's dorm, they say it is really exciting to see the fruit of the labour and work projects. In 2003, when they first started, only the boys dorm had been started and the girls were still living at the older facility.
The project this year was to help us prevent flooding. Since our arrival last June, we learned very quickly how vicious the rainy season can be. The school is a bit lower than the rest of the facilities and is near to the road. Last year, Ira and small groups worked to re route the water and build drainage ditches. Just when the project was functioning, the road near the entrance was redeveloped. They removed trees that sheltered the entrance and built the road higher and right next to the fence line. Knowing that this would cause the water to run directly onto the property, we felt it a priority to prevent school flooding.
The team worked cement work the whole 2 weeks. It is very hard work with the shoveling of sand and rock. They were able to get about a 1 foot high concrete border along the bottom of the fence and on each side of the entrance gate. It will be a true blessing to Pan de Vida as the rainy season will be here before we know it.
The team also had fun times as a family to see some of the local sites, cooking their own meals, playing pranks on each other as well. The night after church, they had a pizza party and fireworks for the kids. It was a very exciting way to leave a memory with the children and us.
For us, 2 weeks is such a short time and it seems we are just getting to know the groups and individuals when it is time for them to leave. However, the work they do will be a visual reminder of the love the have to serve God and help these kids in their everyday needs. I am reminded of the scripture Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
As they come now and are staying in the visitor's dorm, they say it is really exciting to see the fruit of the labour and work projects. In 2003, when they first started, only the boys dorm had been started and the girls were still living at the older facility.
The project this year was to help us prevent flooding. Since our arrival last June, we learned very quickly how vicious the rainy season can be. The school is a bit lower than the rest of the facilities and is near to the road. Last year, Ira and small groups worked to re route the water and build drainage ditches. Just when the project was functioning, the road near the entrance was redeveloped. They removed trees that sheltered the entrance and built the road higher and right next to the fence line. Knowing that this would cause the water to run directly onto the property, we felt it a priority to prevent school flooding.
The team worked cement work the whole 2 weeks. It is very hard work with the shoveling of sand and rock. They were able to get about a 1 foot high concrete border along the bottom of the fence and on each side of the entrance gate. It will be a true blessing to Pan de Vida as the rainy season will be here before we know it.
The team also had fun times as a family to see some of the local sites, cooking their own meals, playing pranks on each other as well. The night after church, they had a pizza party and fireworks for the kids. It was a very exciting way to leave a memory with the children and us.
For us, 2 weeks is such a short time and it seems we are just getting to know the groups and individuals when it is time for them to leave. However, the work they do will be a visual reminder of the love the have to serve God and help these kids in their everyday needs. I am reminded of the scripture Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
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