Day 4 - Getting started with our work

Cuba VIM Blog Monday, March 27, 2017 - Day 4

 

​Last night was our first normal night of sleep since before our departure, and it felt really good!  Jay Shell shared morning devotions and reminded us that we are here to help with the things that our hosts find important.

 ​The bus picked us up at 8:25 and took us to Pastor Miguel and Pastora Mercedes home across the courtyard from the church for breakfast.  You can see the bountiful spread on one of the two tables where we were served.  Favorites from the breakfast menu included the guanabana jelly, expresso, and  the cocoa powder, sugar, and warm milk to make our own hot cocoa.

 

After breakfast, the guys went up to the roof to go over the project.  A metal roof shelters 1/2 of the roof with a porch/balcony area at the street end of the roof.  The project will be to lay a layer of sand, cover it with a thin coat of cement which will act as a mastic for tiles.  This is needed to provide sound insulation for the second floor where the family lives and to provide a future chapel location.

Jaye, yes we have Jaye and Jay on this trip - and the women sorted all the supplies for the children at Vacation Bible School (VBS).  Gallon bags were each stuffed with lead pencils, erasers, sharpener, 10 colored pencils, toothbrush and holder, toothpaste, pocket-pack tissues, and a Tootsie Pop.  These will all go in a back pack that the children will decorate during VBS.

 

After lunch, the bus took us to the National Monument honoring "The Father of All Cubans, the Father of the Nation", Carlos Manuel De Cespedes.  His home and properties were destroyed by the Spanish when he was fighting for the liberation of Cuba.  The bell that was rung for the fight to start hangs in the wall on the right.  It has been taken to Havana by Fidel Castro four times in the name of freedom.

 

We took a walk in the downtown area to see the central plaza with its lovely gazebo - the emblem of Manzanillo.  On our way back to the bus, we stopped at Los Alto Restaurant to preorder our dinner, shrimp, fish, chicken, beef or pork with rice or beans and rice.

 

 

The bus took us back to Hotel Guacanayabo for a shower, sorely needed with the dust from working with the sand on the roof and walking in the heat here.  We enjoyed our dinner out and getting acquainted with our hosts.  We were especially grateful for Dilver who is translating for us and helping with computer and Internet issues.  We've run into a bit of a snag with Internet connections, so you may not receive this blog until after our return.

 We thank all who have contributed to the support of our Mission Trip with funds and supplies.  When you see how little the people have, and how joyfully they worship, it is a lesson in expressing our gratitude for the many gifts God has given us and for the privilege of being able to share with the people of Manzanillo.       Submitted by Coralene (Corey) and Basil Bloss