January

It’s already February.  Time flies when you’re having fun, or at least when you’re staying busy, which we have been.  Homes of Hope still consumes the majority of my time, and Beth continues to be involved in many of the happenings on and around the base.  By using a standard of ‘at the end of the day, point to what you have accomplished’ our productivity sometimes might be considered low, but sometimes the work we do can’t be measured in tangible units.  There are many things which impede ‘work’ here, and as someone who values work and productivity, it can be extremely frustrating.  But hopefully I can learn from them, use them as teaching opportunities, exercise patience, and sometimes help to change them, if appropriate. 

There was a DTS team here at the beginning of January from Tijuana (YWAM Baja/San Diego), the home base of Homes of Hope, who were here to ‘build’ the home for which we had prepared the foundation.  In my opinion, things didn’t go well.  ‘We’ didn’t have all of the materials and tools needed, there wasn’t reliable transportation, and things got rushed.  But at the end of their allotted eight days of building time the walls were up and (mostly) plastered and painted, part of the roof was on, a door and shutters were hung (so they could get their pictures) and they prepared to leave with the feeling of a job well done.  Some of the team leader’s last words as they gathered for the pictures and ‘presentation ceremony’ were: “Don’t worry, they’ll finish tomorrow” pointing to me and the two ‘students’ I’ve been working with.  ‘Tomorrow’ was nearly four weeks ago and we’re getting close to finishing.  And ‘finished’ is another relative term.  We hope to be to the point where the family can move in to the home in the next few days, and I suppose that’s what we’re calling finished.

This whole project has certainly given me plenty to think about.  It’s the subject of many discussions, especially between Beth and me.  There are many philosophical considerations, and of course the practical implications.  I’m not going to try to spell all of those things out here, but here are a few:  Is it ‘right’ to give a home to someone?  Should there be conditions?  What is the impact within their community?  What technologies and materials should be used?  Should it be done by outsiders?  What about follow up?  I know a lot of people participate in ‘short term’ mission trips, often for building projects (I have), these are things I think should be discussed as part of the preparation for those trips.  I’m still trying to sort out many of these things myself, meanwhile there are more teams scheduled to come to build more homes (of hope).

Meanwhile we get involved with other things.  Beth has gone with visiting teams as they go to minister at different places.  She also went one weekend to Soroti, about four hours away on a bus, where she visited Amachek; a home for children with AIDS and other serious diseases whose families can’t care for them.  This week she went to a village clinic primarily providing pre and post natal care to women.  Beth also spends a lot of time with the girls who are here for vocational training.  There are ten of them, mostly from difficult backgrounds, and they really value the ‘family’ time Beth and others spend with them.  We really enjoy getting to know them and being a part of their lives as well.

Next week we’ll be going home for a few weeks visit.  I’m not looking forward to Colorado’s weather, but of course we’re excited to see family and friends.  No offense to anyone else, but Lucy sits at the top of the list of those we’ll spend time with.  I think I’ll even be able to work on our taxes with her around…

We’ve already purchased our return flights (really affordable, this time), and I’m already anticipating our time back here.  I feel like we’re leaving many things undone, and I have plenty of ideas about things I want to do when we get back.  In spite of the many frustrations, this is where we belong for now, so even though we look forward to the break, it won’t be too difficult coming back.  We’ve got a growing shopping list of things to bring back as well.  Things we want to have for our ‘home sweet home’ away from ‘home sweet home’.

The 'finished' home the team left...

...with much left to do.  

With some of the VTS chefs