The morning holds the promise of an incredibly hot and humid day. As our laborers of love board the bus to bring them to their assigned work area, a covering of love goes with them. Angels of mighty strength will shield them with their wings. The medical clinics in Neyba were plenty busy yesterday and the crowd was hard to control. We were all so thankful for the armed police guard that we had hired. Doesn't it seem strange to think you would have to pay the government to protect you while you freely help their people? But that is the way it works in some of these countries. The price for our safety was cheap enough. There was a high fence around the building and the guard had held them back behind the fence forcefully. As I came to the clinics for my report, it would have been physically impossible to have moved through the crowd if not for the policeman. People were pressed up against the fence with such force that it reminded me of scenes I have watched in the news of rock concerts where people in front are crushed. A very frightening experience from the outside, but once inside, it was all calm and orderly. Dr. Chet had commented that he has never seen such self centered people, but that he still couldn't blame them for they have so little. There are people coming in who are not in such bad condition, but want what ever is free anyway. A 3 year old child was brought in to the dental clinic to have his teeth cleaned! Stuart said a woman in the eye clinic became very irate over "our service" and said she would take her business elsewhere and left.
The medical clinic will not be going back to the city of Neyba today as first planned. There are other clinics there that are run for profit that people could get to if needed. The healthiest and strongest were pushing the weakest and sickest away to take their spot in line. This causes not only a dangerous situation for the weaker, but also makes the reason for us coming to the town of no avail. Rosalie did tell me a heart wrenching story of a street child who made his way through the crowds to get in. His skin was just oozing with infection and pus, she knew that he had probably never been hugged in his life and that along with any medication they gave him, that the touch of a human hand in kindness would heal more than his skin. She hugged the boy while Dr. Evans examined him.
The medical clinic treated 425 patients, handed out 122 pair of glasses, examined 75 dental patients, extracted 47 teeth and did 55 cleanings.
The construction crew were able to put down 373 blocks yesterday and there is even a rumor that we might finish a little before schedule.
A group of us went back to the elderly woman's house like we promised. We admired her freshly poured floor and the picture she proudly displayed of her late husband. She presented us with a prized papaya fruit in gratitude and we then had a short prayer with her and her family before leaving. She pleaded that we will come back next year and do more work. Her words were haunting as she pleaded that we should "pray to come back to Mixta as no one ever comes here." So far we have poured floors in 5 homes and will be pouring 2 more today. We have also bought the supplies for 2 more homes that will be able to do their own pouring. And at this point it looks as if we will have enough money to supply cement for another 2 or 3 homes to put in their own. To those of you that have chosen to finance this particular project, all I can say is, well done, you have chosen wisely.
Our evangelistic effort was filled to overflowing again last night. We had to move the children's program out into the street and we counted 300 in attendance. At the adults meetings we had an increase and were up to about 120. The devil keeps throwing in all sorts of daggers, hitting our projection equipment. Please pray especially for that situation.
The compound where we are staying has 2-water spigots outside and the local people come and fill their buckets daily. The women balance a 5 gallon bucket of water on their head with as little effort as wearing a hat. It is amazing to watch them come and go with this heavy load so securely balanced. It has been a problem for us though as they keep draining our water supply, in which we have paid for. Our tired dirty workers come back to camp wanting to take a cold shower, (there is no hot water supply) and find there is no water as the local people have drained it. This is a dilemma for us, as even though we have paid for this water, we can't deny them water to drink in order for us to have water to shower. We have bottled water to drink and do not dare let the local water pass our lips. What an easy life we have in America.

To God be the glory, great things He hath done!
Smiles as always,
Jennifer Young
Berkshire Mission Reporter