Juarez, Day Five

Wednesday, April 6th

Wednesday was a great day on the jobsite. We finished off the house, cleaned up the church building where we had been sleeping, eating, showering, etc., traveled back to El Paso, ate enough pizza for a crew of 50, and we all took long hot showers. What else do you want to know?

Okay, Wednesday started with a promise. A promise that if we finished the house we could pack up our stuff and head back to good ole USA and sleep in a real bed and take a hot shower. Everyone realized that we could make this happen and we did.

We spent the day in two spots, inside and outside. The outside crew mixed the stucco in the concrete mixers and put it on the chicken wire (which helps keep the stucco there until it dries, and probably after it dries too). The inside crew worked on drywall and electricity. That's about it. It took us from around 9 AM until 4 PM to do those things to the house and then clean up the jobsite. I knew we could do it.

After everyone helped clean up the tools, put everything in Pete's truck, sweep the inside of the house, and put the gifts inside, we gave the house to the family. Alfredo and Rosa were both very sweet spirits. Matt said a few words and they were given the keys to the house. We all prayed together and then we took pictures before we left the site. What an emotional moment for all of us. We would be leaving, never to return, most of us at least would not return, and even if we did return to Juarez what are the chances of seeing this part of the city again? I started thinking about what was going through Alfredo and Rosa's minds. How long had they waited for this day? When they put in their application for a house at their church, how long did it take for Casas por Cristo to tell them they'd been approved and would get a house. When did they know the dates we would be coming to help? As a husband and father, I know that he must have felt such relief when he found out that his beautiful wife and three children would have a home. As a man, that's a very important thing. Taking care of our family is natural. How would I feel if I couldn't provide a place for my family? That's scary, and it gives me purpose and answers the question, "why do you do this?" It's for Alfredo and Rosa. That's why we do what we do.

Thank you Lord for Your help during the building of this home. Help us to take something away from the worksite that will impact our lives forever. And make this home a stronghold for Your kingdom.