Ello Mates

So this isn’t one of those ‘what happened today’ updates. This is more of a general update. We’ve talked as a team with Bruce about projects that we can work on that can be long term but also serve to better the individuals that Walk in the Light interacts with. Bruce shared with us his desire to get a gym going here on the property. So as a group we cleared out an old storage room. In the process of clearing out that room we encountered a few whip scorpions, a mouse that scared the daylights out of our entire team, and enough spiders to start our own spider farm. Once the room was cleared out we laid down some carpeting that we found lying around and soon after painted the room a nice sky blue (perfect muscle building atmosphere). Bruce had an old piece of gym equipment that we dismantled and then put back together properly (very proud of ourselves). As a team we also purchased some exercise balls for the gym. We’re also planning to put up some pull-up bars and make a sort of track that runs along the inside perimeter of Walk in the Light. It was great hearing Dane (athletic training major) explain proper workout technique and the way muscles work to a few of the guys from the community (the confused looks on their faces were priceless). But that gym has been really great already. There’s been a lot of excitement seen in the youth regarding the gym so we’re encouraged. We’re praying that the gym will be something that can give people within the community a.) something to do so their boredom won’t lead to promiscuity and b.) provide the people an opportunity to improve their physical health. This seems like a project that can be continued long after our missions trip has ended.

We’ve also worked on setting up a preschool at Walk in the Light. If you drive through the neighborhood during the day it is quite obvious that there is a need for a preschool. There is one childcare place that Bruce refers to as ‘Day Prison’ because the infants just stand around all day. But we got a few rooms set up, got some toys in them, and have a few more ideas that we’re going to run with. It’s great having a team that is so idealistic because we’re always trying to figure out what improvements we can make next.

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but every weekday a few of us go with Bruce to take some people in the community to the neighborhood medical clinic. Nicole and I go together and each time has been both different and difficult. We got to sit down and pray for a young woman whose husband had died the day before. We took two AIDS infected brothers to the clinic. These guys looked so gaunt and defeated. They wore baggy clothes hoping to hide their emaciated bodies. It was unreal. It’s very obvious that 60% of the community is infected with HIV/AIDS. In the states if I met someone with HIV it would be a huge deal. But here, it’s almost numbing because of how frequent you meet and become friends with people that are battling HIV/AIDS. I’m probably writing far too much. This is a team blog so I’ll keep it on team issues.

As far as the youth is concerned, there have been over 50 kids at Walk in the Light the past few days. It’s great that so many kids come, but it’s hard when you have 3 kids on your back, 1 on each foot, and then 5 more screaming your name. But that’s a great problem for us to have.

We’re all loving each other. We’re doing great and get sad when we realize that our time here at Walk in the Light will soon come to an end. Keep praying for the team and that we stay motivated and don’t grow weary.

Joyful in Hope. Patient in Affliction. Faithful in Prayer.

Love you all

-Rory