We got lots of work done today. There are only 7 more trusses to install on the church. The church is about 80’ long, so it requires 39 trusses, as well as another 30 over the Sabbath School rooms. The trusses on the Sabbath School section are all up and we worked all afternoon getting them prepped. Unfortunately, the walls of the church are not parallel, so you can imaging the nightmare we are having trying to square up the trusses to the walls. Many of the plywood pieces had to be cut and custom fit. The group was up at 6 am at the job site. They are real troopers, but we are all very tired.

There were a number of decisions for baptism at the meeting tonight. Pastor Milton is doing a wonderful job. The Bible workers are so dedicated and faithful in their work.

There are some unique challenges here in Guanaja. The English culture and the Spanish culture have many different slants towards the church, and thus it results in some friction between the groups. They all live on the same small island cay (about 15 acres in size) and so everyone knows everything about everyone else.

We really wish we could get another two or three small groups of skilled builders, plumbers and electricians to come here and help finish the work on the church and the pastor’s house. We will have to leave funds for them to help finish the work that we started.

The Children’s VBS program keeps growing each night. There are 100+ attending.

To build the attendance at the evangelistic meetings, they have chosen to clear out the first floor of the church (where all of the trusses and building materials have been stored) and hold the rest of the meetings in the official Spanish church.

Wednesday – Thursday, April 4-5, 2007

It was pouring hard this morning. So we got a late start on the construction. However all the trusses have been installed and the last sheet of plywood was nailed this afternoon. The crew that is working on the pastor’s house has installed the roofing trusses. But, they have to stick frame the “hip roof” and that takes a lot of skill and precision. It is really important to get all of the roof tar paper on the plywood before anymore rain comes, as the plywood can warp and cause all kinds of challenges.

The eye clinic shut down today, as most people take off the entire Easter Week (Holy Week). Most of the shops and stores are closed.

After work a number of the group went diving and snorkeling. It is one of the best dive sites on the planet.

Tomorrow is our last push. We have about 5,000 square feet of roofing to cover with tar paper.

What a joyous worship we had tonight. Many of the young people have taken an active roll in sharing a devotional thought. This evening after the devotional, Pastor Milton challenged the kids to think seriously about baptism or re-baptism. One young person has already talked to Pastor Milton about baptism, and tonight, 6 more responded. We will be having a special baptismal service for our group on Sabbath evening, right at sundown.

There are 5 or 6 candidates at the Evangelistic meetings, so God is at work here.

Changing Lives! That motto surely has been evident here.

Friday, April 6, 2007

Talk about troopers! These kids are awesome. We challenged them to all get up on the roof to nail down the tar paper. This job would take 4 people all day. With 20 up there, they got it done in 2 ½ hours. Then we set about to do some serious clean up. Four weeks ago, our goal was to have the roof on the church and that we would celebrate their first worship service on April 7. Praise the Lord, we will see that as a reality.

The church is designed in typical rectangular shape with the pulpit being up front of the elongated room. However, we have talked to the local elders and the pastor to see what kind of a reaction their people would have to flipping the platform 45 degrees and setting up the chairs in a semi circle so that everyone would be closer to the pulpit area. They loved the idea, but thought that many of the traditionalists would balk. We said, “Just try it and see how they like it. You can discuss and argue about it for weeks, but let the members experience the ‘new look.’ So, we will see what happens tomorrow.

After lunch, we took a ride on a glass bottom boat to one of the coral reefs. Several in the group have not been diving or snorkeling, so they had a great time. We had to go in two groups, so while one group was out on the glass bottom boat, the rest of us enjoyed “The Rock” … a house built literally on a rocky island. Beautiful view!

There was a full house at the church. It looks like there will be 10–12 baptisms. Another young person from PAA wants to be baptized as well. So we will have eight PAA seniors as well as a young man, Miguel, who has been working—volunteering—with the students on the job site every day. He has been so impressed with their Christian witness that he wants to walk a Christian walk as well.

Judy has been very sick for the past two days. I think we have worn her out. She has been working 16–18 hour days for almost 4 weeks. What a trooper!

I went around a paid off all of our “accounts” … bakery goods, fresh fruits and veggies, building materials purchased locally, etc. We will be coming home with $0 in our pocket. But, we know that our financial gifts will be used mightily for His Kingdom here in Guanaja.

Our love,

Joedy & Judy

Read April 7-9 e-mail