Lots of Firsts / Estos son eventos

Nine of our ten team members have been here before, but this has been a trip of firsts for all of us: the first time we have had a vehicle (the KIA truck) breakdown on the trip from Tegucigalpa to Choluteca resulting in a battery swap on the side of the road in the mountains and a bunch of push starts; the first time since we have had wireless in the mission house that we cannot get internet service through the network (this blog entry is being typed at Wendy’s and sent WIFI); the first time the water pump in the mission house has broken leaving several team members soaped up in the shower with no water until the plumber arrived and got the water working again. In spite of these obstacles we experienced a great first today: the first time an FBC mission team has returned to a village where we have worked before. It was a homecoming for several of us when we arrived in El Carrizo this morning to familiar faces eagerly awaiting our appearance: Reynaldo, Lesbi Roxanna; Kayla; Fransisco; Juan Carlos; and Senor Paulino; but most importantly Reynaldo. The amazing six year old workhorse who won our affections three years ago with his huge smile and powerful motor was ready and quickly took command of our hearts and of the worksite. We are building Reynaldo’s family a house and he is as excited about it as we are. We put up five courses of block (including a course of channel block) and set two doors today by 3:00 p.m. After all the firsts it was good to have an old familiar waiting for us tonight: Rosa’s beans and rice with plantains, tortillas, and fresh cantaloupe and watermelon. Tom took a picture of his plate for you, JB, but after all the technical problems we will probably not get to post it tonight. All is well here, our Lord and Savior walks with us. More tomorrow if we can make it work.