Tuesday, July 26, 2011

You can see that the team is excited about sharing their trip with everyone back home, so it appears I'll have to do my blogging before the youth wake up. When I saw everything that Mission of Hope is doing here, I was convicted. What have I done in comparison over the past year? Their work here is on an entirely different scale! A huge, state of the art warehouse capable of supporting food distribution for 100,000 kids a day; 500 homes being constructed in three villages; an agricultural training facility; partnerships with local churches and schools being supported. But then I had the image of our churches in Madison and Virginia providing a very small thread in a tapestry that our Creator is weaving. The money we raised, the guitar, the dresses, the Bibles; the toys; the clothes... and the prayers… all are being used by our God to the glory of his kingdom. The small contributions all of us are making are being very well used.
I am so encouraged by the stewardship I see with Mission of Hope. I cannot over emphasize the giant steps they have made over the past year. They are taking a leadership role here and partnering with other organizations to reduce redundant efforts, and get higher efficiency from the resources coming into the country. The warehouse project is an example. An organization called Convoy of Hope is the organization funding the warehouse, but MOH provides the build site, free labor (us and groups like us) to reduce cost, a pipeline of food donations, and a pre-existing distribution network. I'm reminded of a saying, "imagine what could be accomplished if we didn't worry about who takes the credit". The foreman at the job site is a very intense individual. He is actually a businessman who apparently funded the building himself. But, let me tell you, it wouldn't be going up without the skilled labor from WHBC and Summit!
Rob and Scott flexed their muscles moving steel structural elements across the job site until they decided to use their largest muscle (their brains) and solicit the help of a young lady named Jo Lee and her bucket loader. David, Glenn, and I hoisted 180 lb horizontal structural elements up 30' scaffolding using rope and muscle. We were definitely not as proficient as the professionals there, climbing the scaffolding and columns like monkeys. I continue to feel inadequate. We then attached about 100 connection brackets on columns using large bolts (like a huge erector set). We torqued them down good and tight to! After we were done, and taking a break, looking at what we had accomplished, one of the guys asked, "did you level those?" Well, let me tell you, rework really is a great opportunity to keep a good attitude. Meanwhile the experienced guys used cranes to put up more assemblies of columns and roof beams.
Rob, David J., Scott, Glenn, and I will work a little more on the warehouse this morning. The rest of the team will work their second day of VBS. The team will unite in the afternoon to clear some land at the village of Leveque. I shudder at the thought of Jacob and Nelson swinging machetes… Hopefully we will join up with our young friends from Source Matley, who are apparently on the work team.
Kirk