I’ve seen the destruction of families due to alcohol, narcotics, and other addictions firsthand. When I was much younger, I watched my family deal with an addicted family member and often the embarrassment that came from it. They never stopped loving him but struggled with how to help. As a pastor, I have been connected Continue reading

Wednesday was more of a relaxing day… at least at the start. We were able to sleep in a little later, and most of the team took advantage of that luxury. Our flight didn’t leave until after 4, but we chose not to just hang around the pool. After breakfast, packing and morning devotion, we Continue reading

If Monday’s word-of-the-day was “dirt,” then Tuesday’s word was “concreto.” We kept the mixer turning, the wheelbarrows rolling and the bucket dumping until we had completely covered the top of the walls to prepare it for a roof. Everybody pitched in to get the job done. We thought we might have knocked off a little Continue reading

Today we dug holes in the dirt, filled holes with dirt, and moved dirt from place to place in wheelbarrows. The word of the day is “dirt.” Without the aid of a backhoe or a bobcat, we worked on digging out the septic tank for the church in Villa Real, back-filled around the foundation of Continue reading

Today was a day of rest and worship. I thought a lot about what was taking place in Greensboro at Grace Fellowship. I know things are in good hands, but I am eager to get back and get reconnected with my church family. Thank you, Grace, for letting me have this time to serve the Continue reading

Today the team poured seven columns. That’s a lot of cement, people! The church building is really coming together. I missed a day of work to prepare to preach tomorrow. It was good to get a bit of rest. It also enabled me to call Carol Steele after the passing of Don today. We’re in Continue reading

Perhaps this will sound like a broken record… It was hot, and we got a lot done. The steps to the water house were completed. We poured the columns across the front and filled the cells in the concrete blocks that were remaining. Another load of 400 block were delivered, so there’s still a good Continue reading

Thursday was a full day. Speaking for myself, it wore me slap out! Like the rest of the team, I am privileged to be able to serve. Pouring the cement columns for the building is a labor-intensive task. Basially, we use the mixer (an item for which we are all infinitely grateful) to mix the Continue reading

Wednesday was a more relaxing day. We said good-bye to the team from FUMC Waynesboro. John and Donna’s home church team did so much. They went home tired but satisfied. I pray that the impact of the trip for both them and the Dominicans will be long-lasting. We got a chance to rest a bit Continue reading

Another productive day on the site at Villa Real. We have the walls of the church nearly complete and poured headers on both sides before we left. Some Dominican workers will work tomorrow to move things forward even more. The two teams from Augusta and Waynesboro have done some terrific work, and I have been Continue reading