We had a super Sabbath!!!!

The school was packed for church. A rough count showed about 200-250 people. It was wonderful. Donisha gave the children’s story. The kids really enjoyed that. Barb had our sermon, which Jose was kind enough to translate again. She talked about the fact that each of us can be missionaries, right where we are. She also reminded us that each of our lives could be a “bible story”. We never know when we wake up in the morning, what God has planned for us that day. It was a very inspiring sermon.

Afterwards, we took a group photo at the front of the school. One with just the volunteers and one with all of the Maranatha crew members. It was a lot of fun.

In the afternoon, the group split up to see different things. Some went back to the beach we visited on Wednesday, while some of us decided to check out a different “waterhole”. It was actually a grotto. What an awesome place to go swimming. Those of us that went, really enjoyed the trip. I don’t have any pictures to show you yet. I might have to post them after I get back home. There wasn’t enough time after dinner to get them uploaded.

At this point, I don’t know if I will be able to post another message on the blog. We’re planning on quitting work a little early tomorrow, so everyone can get back to get cleaned up and packed. We’re also going to celebrate some birthdays and, of course, Father’s Day. I was told that the internet café may be closed by the time I’m ready to send another message. If that is the case, I will post a follow up, after I return back home.

So, if I don’t talk to you before we leave, I want to thank all of you for following along with our group. We’ve really enjoyed knowing that there are so many of you out there, watching what’s going on here in the Galapagos. We’ve been incredibly blessed on this project and can’t wait to see how our work will bless the kids that will be attending this school. A piece of our hearts will be forever left behind, here on Santa Cruz.

Many blessings,

Birdie

Even though we quit work a little early today, we were still able to get a lot accomplished. At the front of the school, almost all of the walls are up to the 5^th course. The back has only a couple of courses left on the interior walls. According to Jose, one of our electricians, the electrical is pulled into all the rooms now. Both he and Rickford, our other electrician, are now helping to lay block at the front of the school. Peter – I haven’t posted a picture of the electrical crew, since my flash didn’t reach up into the rafters where they were working. And I really didn’t feel like climbing the scaffolding to get a closer look at their work. You’ll see their picture in the group photo I’m planning on taking at church tomorrow.

The painting crew started to apply the oil paint at the bottom of the walls in the classrooms. It looks really nice. I don’t know if they’ll get any of that done in the main room, but that could very well be finished by the time we quit on Sunday. We’ll have to see.

Some of the kids that will be attending the new school when it opens joined us today. They helped move block, clean up and were also seen sanding some of the window screens.

Today was the last day of VBS. It looks like they had a lot of fun. The kids really enjoyed the project that our team had them work on.

It’s been a busy week and all of us are ready for the Sabbath. We really need the rest.

We’re looking forward to worshiping in the new school for church tomorrow. I’ll post pictures, as soon as I get them.

Until then,

Birdie

Our fourth work day was quite busy.

At the back of the school, we finished the outside walls. The inside walls of the classrooms are in the process of being finished and will most likely be done tomorrow. We started the two rooms at the front of the school and have almost four courses completed on the outside walls. Tomorrow morning we will pour our first bond beam.

The paint crew is almost finished applying the second coat of paint to the perimeter wall. All 300 feet, inside and out.

The electrical crew completed installing all switches and receptacles in the six interior classrooms and are now starting on the extension rooms in the front of the school.

Our VBS crew has about 25 children in attendance. They are having a great time with the kids.

We also have three people that are spending time at the school each morning, teaching English in four of the classes.

All in all, we are getting so much accomplished. It is such a blessing to be part of this team.

We appreciate those of you that are posting comments for us. Keep them coming! It lets us know that you are watching our progress.

Peter  - We have 37 participants in our group. I´m sure we´ll take a group photo, before the project is over.

As for the tortoise in the carry-on, good luck with that. Those things are HUGE.

Until tomorrow,

Birdie

We had a WONDERFUL excursion day!

First, we visited the Darwin Center. It was a truly amazing place to see. The tortoises were huge. They had species from all the different Galapagos islands. We also got to see some of the land iguanas.

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped by the Loma Linda Adventist School. The kids were so excited to see us. Their English is very good and we were able to talk to quite a few of them. The 10^th grade class had us come up to their classroom and in unison told us “Thank you for what you have done for us”. It was very touching. They kept thanking Maranatha for building them a new school. All the kids are very anxious to be able to use the new school.

After lunch, we visited one of the local beaches. It was quite a hike to get there from the hotel, but what an incredible experience! We saw lots of marine iguanas and were able to get some real close-up pictures of them. A few of us rented kayaks and were able to see turtles and seals. This was certainly a fun-filled day.

Tomorrow, it’s back to the job site. There is a lot of work that still needs to be done and we’re ready to attack it with full force again. Well, at least with as much energy as we can come up with at this point. We’re just hoping for a cloud-cover, since it’s extremely hot when it’s not overcast. When the sun is beating down on us, it can get quite unbearable.

I’d like to thank Bob for our nightly “Bedtime Stories”. He’s left us in stitches each night after dinner. Laughter is truly good for the soul.

Our worships have been presented to us by different volunteers and we’ve received such a blessing. Barb has done an outstanding job in organizing these worships. I really enjoy the uplifting pages of scriptural insights she taped above our bathroom sinks. It gives me a new insight into many aspects of life that I don’t normally ponder.

Today is certainly going to be an early night. We walked for almost four hours today and some said that this was harder than working all day at the job site. Yeah right. J

I hear my pillow calling my name.

Until tomorrow,

Birdie

P.S. Debbie - Please tell George that Iggy is having a fantastic time. He has lots of stories to share with him, when we get back.

Work is progressing nicely. The painting crew was able to put on the second coat of paint inside the school and also along the outside of the perimeter wall. Just to give you an idea of exactly how much work that was, you need to know that the front wall is 300 ft long.

The walls at the back of the school are up to the 11^th course and are ready for the next pour of bond beam. Those of us on the grout crew have been extremely busy. The block layers are steadily bringing up the walls and all in all, things are coming along quite nicely. Even though all of us are anxious to continue with our work, we’re all looking forward to our excursion day tomorrow.

Tonight is going to be an early night, as everyone’s bodies are feeling the effects of two days of hard work.

As I mentioned before, this group is amazing. Team work just seems to come natural to everyone here. We’re all having a great time and laughter can be heard all around the job site all day long.

It’s time to say good night. Thanks for the prayers that each of you is sending heavenwards for us.

Birdie

 

Footnote:

Thanks to those that have posted messages. We really enjoy them. Please keep them coming.

Martha – NO, I haven´t gotten enough beauty rest. I think one of these mission trips would be GREAT for you. Might ruin your manicure, though. J

Debbie K – Please put a sticker on the exercise chart every day for me. I´m using muscles I didn´t even know I had. This is better than going to the gym. They don’t have scaffolding at the gym.

Our second day on the jobsite was just as productive as the first. Everyone was busy laying block, grouting, painting and prepping. We were able to finish another three courses and got the second bond beam poured. The electrical crew has been busy installing light fixtures and outlets. Things are moving along very nicely and everyone is happy to see how much we’ve been able to accomplish. But now, we’re tired. I think we might have to call it an early night and rest our weary bones. There is more work to be done tomorrow and we want to be well rested.

Until then,

Birdie

The first day on the job was better than anyone could have hoped for. We were able to get four courses up on the back of the school, where the three new classrooms are. The rebar is tied in and we’re ready to pour our first bond beam tomorrow morning.

The painting crew was hard at work, priming and prepping the outside of the perimeter wall and the inside of the main part of the school. They will be ready to apply the first coat of paint in the morning.

This group is working together like a well oiled machine. Everyone is willing to pitch in, wherever needed. We’ve really bonded and made many new friends.

Barb, our worship leader, is doing an amazing job, guiding us in our spiritual growth during the time on this project.

Everyone is looking forward to tomorrow’s work day. We’re all wondering how much more we’ll be able to accomplish. Maybe four more courses? Maybe six? I’ll have to tell you all about it tomorrow night.

We want to thank all of you for your prayers. We can feel them here, in Galapagos. God is doing wonderful things in and through this team.

Birdie

Our group arrived safely on the beautiful Galapagos island of Santa Cruz. There is one person that missed her connection, but she will be joining us tomorrow.

We´re getting settled in and are ready for our first Sabbath with the local congregation.

The volunteers in this group are amazing. We have individuals not only from all over the United States, but also other parts of the world. This team is already bonding and this trip promises to be quite dynamic.

I will post pictures, as they become available. So far, we´ve been busy taking them, but haven´t had the time to download any.

Have a blessed Sabbath day,

Birdie

We had a wonderful Sabbath day today. First, we were blessed to have pastor Lozano, president of the Ecuador Union, preach a powerful sermon on Mark 5:22-24, 35-36. One of the members in our group, Jose, translated the sermon for us. Everyone truly enjoyed the church service.

After lunch, we explored a lava cave and visited a farm that had free-roaming land turtles. We got to see a few of them, after searching for them through some tall grass and trees. They were truly magnificent animals. Two of our team members, Hans and Jose, decided to find out how it felt to be land turtles. The verdict is still out on that one.

We are excited about our first work day tomorrow. It’s off to bed, so we can get an early start.

 Birdie

S 00° 44.072' W 090° 18.743'