One Week

Inside home of family of 7

Stove

Small stove inside

Dirty pila (sink)

Bed with dirty toys and covered in flies

Holly and Jed

Lunch

We've been here a whole week!! The first couple of days were good, the next couple of days reality set in a little and the last few days we have been settling in.  It will take some getting used to being strangers in a foreign land and the shock of poverty.  The poverty we saw today was unbelievable.  It begs the question "How can people live like this??"  Our team (Johnson/Schmidt/Steed) set out to visit two 12X12 families in Magdelana (the village we live in).  We looked like a parade of gringos as we walked through the village.  It's kinda funny because I am not someone who likes attention drawn to myself and that's all I get when walking down the street here.  Anyway, we got to the first family's home which is almost done. (Photos of outside stove and room for family of 7).  They're a sweet family and their current house sits on a small piece of land with huge avocado trees.  They sell the avocados and the father sells firewood for income.  He travels up the mountain with his oldest son and a horse to collect wood to sell in the village.  They live in a shack and are so greatful to God for blessing them with a concrete home.  They never dreamed they would ever have a home like they are getting.  Their poverty was pretty "normal" for what I have seen so far but the second family we visited really disturbed me.  They are a young couple with an 18 month old and a baby on the way. They live in a "room" that is the size of a full size bed and a small space for a "stove" and a few belongings (photos of bed, dirty pila and inside stove).   It is a room added onto a small shack that a couple of other family members live in. It was absolutely filthy and was infested with flies, outside around the pila and inside covering the bed - a dirty stuffed bear hangs from the roof for the baby to play with.   I can't imagine trying to sleep with flies all around.  The mom said something about the baby being sick alot and I didn't know what to think.  Part of me wanted to clean things up and maybe teach the mom how to be sanitary and get rid of those flies but you just can't walk into someone's  home and take over.  I wonder what makes people "ok" with living like that.  Another shock for me was the remains on the roof of a mountain cat they caught and ate.  That did not sit well with the cat lovers in our family.  We have alot to learn about poverty.  If everything works out, they will get a new home and maybe there will be an opportunity to share some housekeeping skills this young mom.

On a lighter note, we will begin Spanish lessons in a week.  That is something we are all excited about so we can communicate with the people around us.  It's tough not speaking the language.  Chris got the boys a TV to help them with their Spanish.  I almost cried when we found the Food Network in English.  Not that I can get very many of the ingredients to cook that good stuff but it was nice to hear our native tongue.

We are excited to be here and feel blessed to be a part of what God is doing for "the least of these."  We are looking forward to getting to know more of the 12X12 families and being able to pray for them as many of them desperately need it.  They aren't any different that we are, they just live in a different situation.  Thanks to each of you back in the States who pray for us, support us and are with us in spirit.  It means more than you will ever know.