SALVADOR SERVANTS: one crappy day

When we started the day off today, the sky was casted over and we were headed up...and down...what seemed to be a Six Flags rollercoaster ride of a street (Bryan actually put his hands up at one point). We passed a LOT of vegetation, a couple dogs, multiple chickens, a lady carrying a basket full of goods on her head...without holding it with her hands, a grandma walking with a 3 foot long machete (don't mess with her!!) and, yes, even a cow or two. We knew right from the get go that today was going to be an interesting day.

We arrived at the farm and we were once again entranced by the beauty of this country. We took a couple minutes to unload the bus, spray ourselves down with bug spray, and take in the beautiful scenery before heading up to the chapel to get the game plan for the day and to learn a little bit about the property.

Cutting the grass with hand clippers!!

While in the chapel, Wayne, our fearless leader, took the opportunity to thank his beautiful wife, Nancy, for the last 41 blessed years of marriage... today they were celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary! We bowed our heads in prayer and celebrated with them as a tear or two ran down our cheeks. What a beautiful way to honor 41 dedicated years together! Congratulations Wayne & Nancy!!

Cole ringing the chapel bell in honor of his 10th birthday & Tucker's 15th birthday

The sky opened up and it began to rain as we left the chapel and loaded 17 people into a pick up truck to head to our work site. What a ride!!

Us crammed in the back of a pick up truck holding a tarp over our heads so wet don't get soaked!

At our work site we were instructed to dig the trenches for the new Transition House for the boys. Once the children in the orphanage turn 18, they are not obligated by law to stay in the orphanage. However, the Transition houses provide the children the option to stay, as long as they agree to continue and finish their studies not only through high school, but through college as well. The Transition houses give these children the opportunity to have some freedom, yet still provide them with a safe, supportive and nurturing space to continue their growth. This is the area where we will be building this week, as well as the area for future foster home construction.

Where we would be breaking ground for the new house and other future foster homes

START DIGGING they said! So that's what we did. Rain or shine we were determined to complete our mission for today. We were digging trenches to lay the foundation for this Transition house... How special and honored we feel to have been a part of this ground breaking, monumental day!

KEEP DIGGING they said! And that's exactly what we did. In the rain and in the sun. All was fine and dandy until we started digging up dirt that was a little... darker...and had a...different...scent to it. We quickly learned that 1/4 of the perimeter that we were digging happened to be where an old septic system was drained off into...we were 120cm deep in soil filled poop!! We simply stuffed drier sheets into some of our shirt collars and/or just braved the elements and kept on digging! We had a job to do!!

With the numbers still ringing in our heads... 40cm wide, 120cm deep...as a team, we achieved our goals for today! The perimeter trenches were all dug out, the middle retaining wall trenches were dug and the stairs up to the house were started. It's pretty safe to say, we've been through it all together... literally!!