Monday morning in Guatemala started a bit too early for me.  We had arrived at our residence very late and it took a while to find everything and get to bed. I did not sleep very long but I got right up when my Mom called. I did not want the bus to leave without me!

Brandon said: bus leaves at 6.45; breakfast at 6:00. You can imagine my Mom.  She was `hurry up’ this and `be quick’ that. I like to do everything in order and so we were both a little flustered.

`Comb hair!’

`Can you skip `comb hair’ today Mathalia? Wear your hat and then messy hair will be okay.’

Okay. Skipping `comb hair’ but NOT skipping my glasses.

`Where is glasses?’

My Mom scrambled around and found them.  They were in my non-work shoes, the ones I had worn on the airplane. At home I put my glasses in their case. Things get a bit mixed up when I travel.

`Where is camera?’

`Your camera is in your backpack.’ Well, that did not work for me. I wanted my camera in my hand. You never know when there might be a good photo-op.

`Where is hat?’  Somehow someway my hat disappeared. I had it on my head and then it was gone!

We rode a long time in the bus: highway then dirt road.

The first team went up the hill and our work site we carried tools down the hill.

Ron was so happy that we had a hill!! Last year he helped me hike up and down the slippery slope. This year our hill was not slippery because it did not rain.  But it was very steep. He loves to help me walk up and down hills and I love to have him do so.

Brandon introduced our family. I remembered the digging part to prepare the dirt for the cement. This time I learned a new job: measuring! LaLinda and Sarah showed me how to measure the boards for Mark to cut them the right size.

After lunch we started to pour the cement. Brandon gave his `work together as a team’ speech:   2 hours or 6 hours.  Somebody said we should try for 7. Hah! We did it in 2.5. The cement team:  Gabby, Renee, Leann, Mom and Billy!  Everything went very fast!

We were finished with the house floor and the porch floor by 3:00. Then we started to make the walls. Wow! Twenty people on a team really makes the house go up quickly.

 

We took the bus home, took a shower and then ate supper:  chili rice, beans, corn tortillas. It felt good to wash off all the cement from my hair and skin. Supper tasted so good because I had worked very hard.

 

Uncle Jonathan talked about humility for devotions and we sang songs. I like to sing `My God Reigns’ and then we went to bed.  So tired!