First Day of Work

Sorry that we weren't able to post yesterday...the power went out for a couple of hours and that messed up our internet.

Yesterday we had a few eye opening activities. First, we went to the deaf church for worship. Many of us had never participated in singing to music with sign language. Everyone tried to participate and many said that they felt like using your body as well as your voice feels like a more complete way to worship our Creator.

Later, we went to infirmary, which is another name for a nursing home. The people there lived in large rooms with about 12-16 beds per room. They had the clothes on their back and the bed that they slept in and nothing else. We learned that quite a few of our youth have the gifts of nurturing, compassion and mercy. All were impacted by how little the people at the infirmary have and how much we have. When we get back I think every person will be grateful for our homes, clothes, possessions and Air Condition!!!!

In the evening, the deaf families in the village came to join us for dinner. Some of our kids jumped right in starting conversations, finger spelling mostly, but learning new signs along the way. We are quickly making lots of friends. We even met a couple who live in Ringgold! We are hoping to be able to invite them to church, provided we can find an interpreter, and to some of our youth events as chaperons when we get back. Our eyes have been opened to a large deaf community in the Chattanooga area.

Today, we are doing all different kinds of construction work. There is a group digging a trench for a water line. Another group is digging up an area so they can pour a sidewalk. Another group is laying block to build the second story of the conference center. And still another group is mixing, carting and pouring concrete into molds to make corners of the walls. It's hard work but we are all surprised that it hasn't been as hot as we expected. There are plenty of clouds and a nice breeze to help us out.

Well lunch is over and we must get back to work. We will try to have a youth or two post this evening provided that we have power. Hoping y'all are having a good Monday.
~Jennifer