CHWT (Chica Hogar Work Team)
short term teams working at girls\’ safe house in Chile

Only 89 degrees today, but still too hot to be in the sun from 11a to 5p, have not run into this issue ever before on trips. We all have plenty to do inside though.

Stan worked on painting a few ceilings with oil paint and we have the photos to
prove it – check out the Stan photos for today at osorno.smugmug.com!

Jenn is just exhausted after the activities with the chica’s today and went
to bed early, in fact we are all whipped and going to bed before sundown tonight.

We are working from sunup to sun down with breaks for lunch and supper and power naps for those needing it. We had some on target encouragement and challenge from our pastors at Redeemer that really helped us to remember sleep is an essential thing.

Stan is an incredibly hard worker whom all the chicas and staff have welcomed with open hearts. Jenn is just fantastic with the girls and they follow her around all the time – she is already asleep. Spike is loved for his woodworking skills and his ability to play and have fun with the chicas. Arlene is nurse to all of us and is just great with all the girls and the tias.

Stay dry and safe,
Felipe for the 2008 team

Pictures here!

96 degrees today in a cloudless sky with no wind here at the Hogar – downtown Osorno climbed to 100.

The chica’s are having a great time reading books for Reading Rodeo with Jennifer and Arlene. When it gets too hot for them they end up playing in the two small pools – today they managed to douse Tio Gary really good. Jennifer and Arlene along with Sue and a few chicas are painting lots of fence pickets and posts that Tio Spike made up.

Jennifer is really bonding with the girls and making a great impact for God’s kingdom. Spike is in the woodshop making play size kitchen equipment for the Cassitta that is still standing after 6 years now. The kitchen stove is really cool and is very sturdy. Next on Spike’s list is some bed side small tables and other projects Gary is thinking up. Spike is happiest with sawdust flying.

The roof is getting done, but we got a little sunstroke yesterday and nurse Arlene is monitoring the team members who SHOULD have been drinking more than 3 liters of water a day. The five rows of shingles are up on one side and we need to get up before dawn to work on it in the few cooler morning hours available. We made an ice cream run to the store and managed to enjoy a litre of banana pecan and manjar together – we all just got way too hot!

Thank you for the encouraging words sent to us

Felipe for the 2008 team

Pictures here!

It was HOT today, Jenn Stan and Felipe are red but no major sunburn. Jennifer and Arlene spent a lot of time with the girls, Spike was in the wood shop, while Stan, Gary and Felipe were working on the roof - we hope to put down the felt on Tuesday and start the shingles. Spike worked most of the day on the fence but did take time out fix a plumbing leak. Stan and Felipe went to the local Home Depot type store - oohhhhh!

God is good, we are making great progress on all projects and we are learning or relearning our Spanish,

chou, Felipe

Pictures here, if posted

Hello, we went to church today and had a great time listening to God speak and worshipping him in a whole other language. They all sing from the heart and and loud! Thank you Sharon and Jack for sending the message on Sunday to us also, it was great. We were taught at church here about how we cannot create our faith, but must ask God to provide it to us - faith is not of works.

After a lunch of fresh vegetables - tomatoes, cucumbers and fresh melon we took off to see the Mount Osorno the closest volcano that is huge and quiet for now. It is great to experience God´s world in all its wonderful differences. Due to the soil, roses grow here everwhere in very strong colors.

The chicas have been learning english and some are doing very well at it. Jennifer has been doing so many fun and great things with the girls and they have been really wound up lately. Overall this was a great day to rest a bit, spend time with the girls and see a few places in Chile.

Tommorow it is back to work from sun up to sun down.

chou,

Felipe for 2008 team

Pictures here! 

Buenos Noches, Today was a great day. Arlene and Spike arrived and the full team is on site and ready to work. Stan, Gary and I almost completed putting the roof deck on the front half of the co director’s casa without any injuries! Jenn has been very busy with the chica’s and has many fun and interactive events planned for them and being worked on. The Tia’s and chica’s are so excited about what Jenn has for them to do and make. Right now they are working on rings, necklaces and bracelets.

Sunday will be a day of rest and planning after we go to Church in the morning with Sue and Gary. Not as understandable as Sharon or Jack, but since the Holy Spirit was around when the languages were confused, we will be challenged and blessed; always a challenge when you can understand the tune but not make sense of the words they are saying. Have a great day worshipping God in Michigan while we do the same in Osorno.

Chou, Thank you for all your support and helping out our families who are there. Felipe for the 2008 team

Pictures here!