The morning is hot and dry, but there is a promise of the coming Sabbath to fill our souls. And with the dew from Heaven there will be plenty of strength and joy for the day.

We opened our day with worship led by Paul Miller; it was a very insightful and inspiring devotion.

Our team was off on time at 7:15 to go to their various work stations. We had some problems yesterday at the clinic as we must stop registering patients by 2:30 in order to close at 5:30. And at 2:30 there were hundreds more coming and wanting to be seen that day. The construction crew is able to finish at a more exact time than the medical crew but then they will have to wait in the bus for the medical folks to be finished before any of them can make the trip back to the hotel. They were all late getting back last night because of the situation with the crowd. It is very hard to just walk away from hurting people. Our kitchen workers start their day at 4am and finish up at 10pm. We have a very dedicated group of people on this team and along with all the hard work is a lot of laughter and camaraderie. Trent Gaylord is experiencing mission work for the first time and feels that it is way more satisfying than what he had expected. He is so happy he is with us and wants to come again. I got the same response from Vicky and Doug Krehbiel when I asked them how they liked the trip, they were in India building churches last year and just love mission work Roger and Karen Naranjo who are friends of theirs, were with us last year in the D.R., a real asset to the group.

Max Tier came strolling past me after getting off the bus last night. He was wearing sunglasses, a hard hat and a ton of cement dust on his face. I asked him about his day and he grinned and turned around to show where his pants had been ripped clear out in the back. Battle scars are a sign of a good days work around here.

Bob and I went to pick up all the steel bars that were being fabricated. A driver in a truck came along also to haul it back to Casa Grande. Unfortunately instead of finishing the order part way so that our construction crew could start the playground, the fabricator started all the pieces but had none finished for us to take. The man’s name is Henry and he had many great ideas for the construction of the metal parts that Bob had not thought of. The man really knows his steel works. After leaving that shop Henry came along with Bob, me, Pastor Antero and his sister Berly, who translates for us and we headed to buy more steel. The first place did not have what Henry thought was best. So from there we went on to several more places to purchase the required items. The men knew one open air market to buy at a very low price. But it was so dangerous that the Pastor said I couldn’t get out of the car and he suggested Bob stay in too while he did the buying. Bob would not stay but would not let me get out. Pastor and another man guarded me while the other 3 made the purchases.

There was a terrible problem going on at the clinics to day with near rioting again. People came at 1 am last night to line up for the clinic today and they are fighting furious now to make sure they get seen. The situation is barely being controlled by the 6 guards. One of the reasons for that is the guards were wanting to control all the people inside the building where it is cooler rather than stand outside and control the really angry crowd. Eric with the help of muscular Jeff Walter for a guard handed out 600 tickets to the people in line. Half to be seen on Monday and the other half for Tuesday. When Eric saw people pushing or shoving, he bypassed them and sent them to the back of the line. There were about 1,200 people waiting in the crowd. Bob had given out about 40 tickets before he realized that it was only men. Seems the men had pushed all the women aside to take their place. We have heard since then that some have sold their tickets for free medical care and drugs to others. Some have brought in counterfeit tickets also. It is so sad to see people so desperate. May the Lord have mercy on them and give us grace and love to deal with it in the right way.

Dr. Williams figured the amount that it would have cost for that much dental work in America. and the total for today alone would have come to $15,117

The news of the Americans being in Casa Grande has made the newspaper even here in Trujillo. Also the television has run the interview in both cities. Nathaniel Beisiegel, Mike Young, Rachel Bugbee and Courtney Rousseau are part of the puppet ministry group and have come back early from the construction site today along with Alene and Alyssa Walter, who by the way, turns 6 years old on Sabbath. They must prepare for tomorrows children’s program. Our thermometer read 106 degrees in the sun today at the work site and several are having a hard time with the heat. Water is more important than ever in these conditions. Mike is in charge of our bottled water and keeping the supply and demand running smoothly.

Barb Dixon who is working in the optical department is handing out hugs along with the glasses. These people have really touched her heart and she is so thankful to be here.

The construction team put down 250

The medical clinic saw over 460 people when they lost count

Dental clinic saw 75 patients and extracted 48 teeth and did 53 deep cleanings.

The eye glass clinic has passed out approximately 400 pair again today.

Remember that you are able to send us mail at the mission address. If you hit reply don’t forget to delete the email update part

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Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Eph.3:20, 21

Smiles as always,

Jennifer Young

Mission reporter