Work Week begins!

Today we got down to our construction part of the trip.  This week will now be days of building and upgrading the Oasis.  We began the morning with Dan leading us in a short devotions as we looked at Jesus' life and compassion He demonstrated.  This was right after we met in the "team room" to find and make our own breakfast.

Team Room Devotions

Good place to remind that all should be doing their own dishes, but no problem with this team as good group of servants.  We then proceeded to the "bodega" where we met Brian and got to see long time friend Doug Johnson.  It is in the bodega that we get the game plan for the week of duties from the staff at the Oasis. 

Work-week planning in the Bodega with Brian

Doug Johnson, still teaching the value of "man-hugs'. 

As we settle in to what jobs meet up with our skills, we determine the best teams will get the most done and what makes sense.  Some of us are available to do whatever they think we can handle.  The first work morning is always exciting as this is when we get to see physically what gets built.  The rooster's crows and dog's barks wake you up followed by the sun, and the then the best part of waking up, girls laughing and running around before they go off to school.

Our team projects consist of making numerous cabinets, painting the complete inside of one of the Casa's, (girls house), gathering in town a number of the items we need to complete work, and another group that will frame, build and paint a sensory room for the Oasis.  

Reviewing the remodeling of the "sensory room".

We also had Tim, our team photographer and video expert, went into town to discuss and video the court and a judge who rules over many of the decisions made for what becomes of the court ordered girls future.  He had a very strong and positive response for how the Oasis has had great success in rebuilding and redeeming the lives of these girls and their families.
Our hope is to complete the painting of the Casa, complete the cabinets, film and complete photos of all the children at the Source of Hope school in Zapote , finish the sensory room and then complete as many of "the list" that still needs to be done at Oasis.  This list is a long one and we will attempt to get to as many jobs as we can.

We also got a nice introduction to the behind-the-scenes of how the Oasis is so successful in redeeming and rebuilding these girls.  We saw how the girls come from the courts via order from a judge who hears of these girls abuse.  It breaks your heart to hear of girls who have had family members abuse, to murder, to prostitution, to kidnapping for organ sales, to even more unthinkables.  We thank all of you for any and all support for this great need.  There has even been child birth at 10 years old and these 10 year old girls are now moms.  Since 2009 to 2019, Oasis has gone from 36 children to 100-110 - 3 missionaries to 15 missionaries - 7-8 times more support of social workers and psychologists. Staff of 17 to 80.  It is good to see God at the center of this all and these folks do such a great job.

We ended the night at dinner and a devotion from Caleb that again engaged our spirits to think and dwell on Gods word and compassion.  We all agreed that compassion is something we all need and need more of.  Psalm 86:15, Zachariah 7:8-12, and Colossians 3:12

Randy