Team Bolivia 2012

Hello 'whomever'......hopefully I got my grammar correct.  Today has been 'mojado'!   That would be 'wet'!  Most days start with a shower (weather) but usually clear up and the rest of the day is great, but not today.  Fortunately most of the work at Talita Cumi was able to continue.   So in spite of rain we were able to paint, do concrete work, and the big event of the day was to complete digging out the concrete and rocks that were being hammered on to create a small tunnel for a new water line to be installed.  When the last rock was removed we cheered and took pictures.  You may wonder why so much enthusiasm accompanied that event but it took a day and a half to dig about twenty feet (about six inches wide...six or seven inches deep).  Literally concrete and rocks the size of large potatoes and some larger than that.   That in and of itself may not sound very exciting but one of the girls, Fanny (who is in a wheel chair), cannot take a shower presently because the water line is too small to get enough pressure to her bathroom.  Also they wanted to install a water heater and the new water line will provide enough pressure for that too.  Can you imagine, the girls have not had hot showers 'yet'!  I would love to be here when they get their first chance to shower with hot water.    Any one want to complain about our circumstances? 
This morning I was having my devotions and in I Peter 2 I read that Jesus was 'rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God'.  Wow!  I don't know if you catch the connection but I couldn't help but think of the kids here who face so many rejections every day.  But the rest of the verse just blessed my heart....CHOICE AND PRECIOUS in the sight of God.  The kids are just that.  The relationships have been so much fun to renew for me and make new ones.  That is what it is all about.  Relationships.  Oh yeah, I am NOT looking forward to tomorrow.  I knew the trip would go quick and so it has.  Tomorrow evening we say our goodbye's and have to come home on Wednesday.  I have to say I could stay here a month or two.  But the time here has been absolutely fantastic!  I will not forget these kids. 
Ken Penner

I spent the morning at the school, and we are making some progress despite the rain. Most of the plumbing got finished today, and I think we will be able to start installing the toilets in both the boys and girls room tomorrow. Again we saw that the hole I dug for a drain definitely works as a drain, however we haven't been able to finish laying brick up along the entire wall for support since it has been full of water. However, we trust that God is in control and everything will work out for his plan. Because of the the drain being full of water I got to spend the afternoon at Talita Cumi. It was great to be able to work with different team members and of course spend time playing with the children. Its fun to see little "jokes" and "pranks" I did as a little kid being done to me and other team members by the kids. Their favorite to do to me right now is point at "something" on my shirt and when I look down move their hand up to poke me in the face. I "fall" it almost every time just to see and hear the great laughter they have from getting me to look. Its hard to believe our time here is almost up but it has been wonderful so far seeing God's love being spread in a different part of the world.
God Bless,
Aaron