Work team at Adonai

I didn't actually ASK Randy if I could do this, but since I found it posted online anyway I thought I would add it to my blog to let you know a little about our visitors...the Canadian work team.

I am staying home today with the boys. Oscar and Ben are driving the two cars to and from the Iguazu Falls in one day and that is too much stress for me in one day. It's a five hour drive there and another five hour drive back. It is 4:45 am and they will probably get back by about 9 pm. I am going to try to write some more today in my free time!

(By the way the pictures are from Renee Koch)

(This is from Randy)

Hello friends and family,

Greetings from Paraguay!

We're thankful to return the news of a safe and smooth
trip here. We received all of our luggage with the
exception initially of Marci's suitcase which was
returned to him yesterday. Everyone is in good health
and good spirits, and we've had a lot of laughter
together.

We put in full days of work yesterday and today on the
school addition - hard labour actually! Yesterday we
moved thousands of bricks - 6-8 per person, per trip -
from the stock pile in the yard to the individual
rooms being added, in preparation for the second floor
being put up. So far most of the walls of the main
floor are complete. We then poured two vertical
concrete columns that act as structural supports for
the brick walls. We also partially demolished a shed
that is being eliminated from the school yard (and
while moving a lumber pile the girls discovered rats
enjoy those shaded areas) and moved a lot of small
stones used for the concrete mix in order to prepare
for school children returning and not having building
supplies in their recreational area.

Today we finished moving the last of the once
monstrous brick pile in the morning (the girls made
another discovery, this time a 4" diameter tarantula),
then moved cement bags and the mortar sand pile out of
the children's rec area. It's funny how the same
materials get moved from place to place half a dozen
times.something I'm trying to encourage efficiency in,
without offending the crew leader! Before lunch we
tore down the roof and beams of the shed we started
demolishing yesterday. It's always an adventure when
the roof rafters are bowing under the weight of your
feet and the structure swaying side to side. We're
quickly adopting the Paraguay way! In the afternoon
they 'let' me lay bricks; at first they were hesitant
in my capabilities, but a few courses were laid and
they left me on my own. The remainder of the team had
the privilege of digging out a stump from a full grown
tree in the volleyball court, and then filled it in
with concrete. It's quite a pleasure working with the
locals here; even with a language barrier we've had
good laughs with them.

The weather has "cooled off" since last week according
to the locals, and was just in the low 90's today! The
humidity is quite high also so it wears out physical
labourers quickly. We're all sporting a nice shade of
pink - maybe beet red in the case of some - in exposed
areas. Lunch break is an hour or more and provides
opportunity for a little siesta to accompany the
recovery time.

Unfortunately there was a car accident we were
involved in yesterday. Oscar was taking Marci, Martin
and Walter back home at the end of the day (us others
were with Karen) and a tanker truck hit the rear
drivers side of the car at an intersection.
Fortunately nobody was hurt in the incident, but
perhaps a little shaken. Oscar's mechanic shop will
attempt to repair the body damage today without
replacing body panels (I've yet to see how that is
accomplished), but normally in North America that
accident would cost a couple thousand dollars in parts
and repairs. We have a trip scheduled to Iguacu Falls
Friday for sightseeing as long as the car is finished.
Saturday is a part day of work then some laundry and
housekeeping and hopefully some relaxation. In the
evening the guys will go with Oscar to the prison
ministry.

All in all we're so thankful for the health, safety
and great fellowship we've already experienced.
Thanks to all of you who pray for us; may God bless
you for it and may you continue to do so for the next
two weeks.

In Him,

Randy on behalf of the Paraguay team 2008