Oropendola Pa Cristo....Youth group mission trip to Oropendola....

How times change. A few months ago I was writing on here about how I struggle to go to Youth Group every week, forcing myself to go as I knew it would eventually get easier with the Spanish and being accepted there etc. Well, eventually has happened! Now I sit here and write about the weekend away I have been on with the Youth Group! I never thought I would sit and write so positively about it all!! However...last weekend was one of the best since I've been here!!....

Every year the Youth Group go on a mission trip/project to a village that needs help, work with children, evangelise and build a house in the community. Usually there is a link somewhere down the line with our church. This year was no different and 25 of us went to a village near the lake to build a house and work with the children in the community. Before leaving I was actually looking forward to going..can you believe the change?! It was Thursday night - Sunday evening.....now that is a LOT of Spanish!! We arrived and stayed in an old 'camp'...an old barn that would have been condemned in any other country!! The boys were meant to stay upstairs and the girls down, but all the floor boards upstairs and the roof were rotten and so we all stayed downstairs!! I didn't even freak out by the large numbers of tarrantulas and far-too-big spiders outside. There was also a rat who came to visit us every night, running around the rafters, a friendly visitor!! We cooked outside on an oil barrel...just the one, but I ate better this weekend than I have since I've been here. Chicken, tacos, pancakes,...you name it!! Amazing what can be done! Our group are all university or beyond so 20's +. Friends our age is great. They are all very supportive of our Spanish efforts and help me out!!

To be honest we got on better with the guys than the girls - the girls are VERY girlie! And the guys are a good laugh! It is nice to be able to broaden our circle of friends.

So, we built a house....the guys and Amanda and I that is! The girls went to the kitchen to make lunch - yeah not a chance of that happening with us!
The house when we got there
Tearing it down


The finished house!

The family we built the house for

In the morning the girls had also gone off into the community to invite all the children to the church for dramas, games, songs, puppets, stories etc. About 150 kids came and it was amazing! They just loved it and everyone was so organised so it went smoothly. The joy on the kids faces as they joined in and had fun.
The kids watching the puppet show!

In the evening the adults were invited back for another drama presentation. It is probably the best drama I have EVER sen - makes me want to cry every time and I've seen it enough times now.

After the drama every member of the group (minus the 2 white girls who simply dont hve good enough Spanish) go off and talk to people, explaining the Gospel to them and praying with anyone. They are not shy or embarrassed or wondering what to say. It is very humbling to see.
The next day we were with the kids again, the same kind of thing except this time we gave out a bag with a toy and sweets in to each child. We had collected all the toys from the talent show and what peole had donated. We had clothes to hand out too but I'm not sure what happened to them!!?

I played games with this boy in his wheelchair whilst the others ran around!

We then went on to another village. We went around the community inviting them along - every house!

The final day was a retreat/relaxing day. Swimming in the river. It was great - a real way to unwind after a crazy weekend! Apparently my Spanish isn't toooo bad!
Friends

Our group




I took so many photos! Here are the links for them...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=165511&l=973d5&id=876635272

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=165954&l=f2830&id=876635272

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=165965&l=2e741&id=876635272

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=165970&l=7d61e&id=876635272