Finishing Strong

This morning’s devotion centered around Matthew 9:34-37 with Jesus looking on the harassed and helpless crowds with compassion. His observation was that the harvest was plentiful but the workers are few and therefore we are to ask the Lord for more workers. The comments centered around us having the same love for others to share the truth of the gospel.

In the bus to the site, Rocky gave another Spanish lesson. Tom, as an eager student, was working on an explanation in Spanish for Luís who’s wife made some amazing purses out of old potato chip bags on him giving the purse from last year to his daughter, Jessica. Tom later proudly stated a successful four sentence monologue with Luís.

Two rooms that were being tiled opened up to be primed so Tom and Eric took on that challenge while the rest of us began the grueling task of digging out a ditch for a sidewalk. My pep talk earlier was that we would finish strong. And we did.

At lunch I also tried to motivate everyone, who at this time were thoroughly exhausted, to get excited for our annual Copa de Mundial soccer match: Estados Unidos versus Honduras. We have yet to win this yearly match so the goal this year was to at least score a goal. And we did...except they scored six.

Covered in sweat and dirt, we entered the bus tired but satisfied at the end of the day. Rocky had inspired us with his diligent digging with the pick axe. We then went to celebrate with Mocaccina Supremes. I must mention here that throughout the week, Tom, the rising star Spanish student who knew next to no Spanish last year, practiced with Alfredo the bus driver everyday with, “¿Á que hora convienza la fiesta?” which literally means “What time will the party commense?” When we arrived at the Esspresso Americano, Alfredo exuberantly announced, “¡Ahora convienza la fiesta!“, or “Let the party begin!”

Rocky led a passionate devotional after dinner based on a sermon from Scott Patty on a phrase from Romans 12:12, “Devoted to prayer” to approriately conclude our theme of “Prayer.”