Month: August 2022

My Sabbatical this year consisted of volunteering at Meals on Wheels. Last year I switched it up and I worked in the kitchen with the staff. This year I decided I would deliver again so I could have more of an interaction with the clients. I was given routes where they didn’t have their normal drivers come in or were out sick.

Day 1
Today was quite an adventure because as I am getting off my exit on S.7th there are little fires burning everywhere off side of the highway.
The fire department was there and had them under control but it was very smokey. I start my delivery which consisted of many streets and clients all in the same neighborhood. I get it done but there was one little lady, whom I did enjoy talking with about her plants and her yard. I also, had one little dog try to attack me which was suppose to be restrained. I had to open and close the door several times until it jumped off the couch and I was able to set meal down on the couch. Later I was informed she has dementia and her daughter puts dog in the kennel but her mother feels bad for the dog and lets it out. This is the only day I delivered in this neighborhood.

Day 2 & Day 3
I was in the same neighborhood for 2 days in a row. When you get to deliver more than 1 day in a row clients start to get a little more use to you. I spoke with one little lady who was 87 and said her husband had passed 2 years ago. She takes care of her son who is in his 60’s and has had 4 heart attacks. She was sitting outside in her chair and we had a good little chat. The next day one little man was sad I would not be coming to deliver anymore because he said he gets lonely and doesn’t have anyone to talk with.

Day 4
My delivery today was very nice a had a little apartment complex for senior citizens. Everyone was very happy to see me some were waiting outside and could tell I was new because I kept looking at my map. One little man was in his wheelchair next to the bus pickup are where I was parked next to. He asked if he could have my suburban. He wanted it because it would be easy for him to put his wheelchair in the back. He said it still looked very good and for me to be sure to check my belts at least every 2 years.

I enjoy delivering because many of these people don’t have alot of interaction with people and they enjoy conversating. I am very grateful that we are able to take a sabbatical and be able to volunteer and make a difference. I want to thank Kris and the Board for being so generous and giving us this opportunity. -LEO-

I can say this again….Wow what an experience Costa Rica has been! This year in only 2 days a HOME has been built for not one but two families! I am thankful for another amazing experience with co-workers and the beautiful people of Costa Rica. Time away from DOW work to do the Lord’s work.

Traveling: Now this was a new experience to say the least…. from leaving Abilene one morning, spending over 12 hours hanging out in Dallas, to then chilling in Miami… let’s just say we were all happy to get to Costa Rica. As a disclaimer: we saved money, but I think we will all choose to spend it next year! All 5 crazies are in the image below!

Day one of the build: Starting off with the concrete slab, our team quickly got to work! Most of us were on the previous trip last year and worked well as a team together building the home last year. I believe the only new additions were those painting for our home. Our awesome team is pictures above! One great thing about working with people you have already done something like this with is knowing what is happening or about to occur and where to step in and start working. We all quickly found hammers and began framing the house. Once the 4 framed walls were up, the internal framed walls went up and then the exterior and interior walls (painted by our newest team members) were next. Windows were put in and all the trusses for the roof were put up on just day one! The plywood went on the roof and the tar paper was put on before it was time to go due to the rain!!!

Day two of the build: We added the remaining interior walls, as well as the trim inside and outside of the home! The roof was finished on both houses by the awesome roofing team and we all found roles to fill in to wrap up the build. At one point I was painting, and another I was added trim. One minute I was sweeping with the broken broom… while another minute I was trying not to fall off the ladder! The electricity was finished up, everything was looking great with all the touch ups and fresh paint inside and out….and we finished the home in just TWO days! Another thing I truly enjoy about these trips is the laughter. I find so much JOY in working with my co-workers, the moments of hard work followed by acting a fool. See image of FUN below, as well as the final view at the end of two hard working days! 😉

Day three on the build site: Since we finished the building part and all the touch ups yesterday, all we needed to do today was finish up cleaning the work site and prepare the homes for the family to come home. We prepped the home with the built bunk bed, the full size bed, the tables and chairs and once the family returned – all the things that they purchased! It was a beautiful site to see and what a humbling experience to share in His great work in Costa Rica. We ended up having additional time so we got to see parts of Costa Rica we had not seen which was a neat experience!

This is definitely a trip that you have to experience for yourself to fully understand! My hope in the years to come is that more people will step up and step in to doing His GREAT WORK where ever we go!

God is good! ALL the time!

Costa Rica is a beautiful country.  They have people from all walks of life and countries.  It is inexpensive to live there and depending on your circumstances you have everything you could ever want.  We always think of Mexico being poor, however in money exchange 1000 pesos = 49.25 dollars and colones (Costa Rican money) 1000 colones = 1.5 dollars. Compare colones to pesos 1000 colones =30.39 pesos. But despite it all, even the poor seem happy.  They are friendly and kind.  At least that has been my experience.

In the barrios where we go is a step back in time.  Out houses, no direct running water and only some have electricity, but their clothes are clean and so are they.  You don’t hear them complaining, they might, but you don’t hear it.

The climate is warm and humid.  Not unbearably so humid that you just can’t stand it, but humid.  Kids play in the road and dogs and cats are running lose, but people care.  They don’t swerve to run over the dogs in the roads, they stop.  I think something that is very insignificant to most is people walk on the shoulders of the roadways, they walk out in front of cars in town and NO ONE, not one person blows their horn.  I witnessed people stopping mid turn at at a red light to let us cross the road.  As Texans at least, we wait for the all clear and if someone stops to let us cross we give a little wave in thanks.  They aren’t in such a hurry that they can’t be courteous.

Texans say hello to everyone they meet.  Evidently in Costa Rica it isn’t common to just say hello on the street, so I was given some funny looks, but I still said “Buenos Dias”

I’m not saying it is a perfect country it is not.  They still have crime and bad people.  As with anywhere you go including Abilene, you just need to be aware of your surroundings and what you are doing.

I love my trips to Costa Rica and wish more would step out of their comfort zones and go on the mission trip.

It had really poured rain the night before (Tuesday)  The plan was to finish minor clean and pick up while the families were shopping first thing.  Neighbors would be invited and we would be out of their hair and them into their new houses by noon.

The families left, the teams went through the neighbor hood and sites were picked up, tools were loaded and extra materials were sat by the road for the taking.  The even took the wet floppy sheet rock that is sure to mold.  But…..

All was ready, the furniture was assemble, mattresses were placed and beds were made.  The dining table set with new dishes.  A bunson burner was unpacked as was a rice cooker and a coffee maker.  Towels  were laid out and curtains were hung. And we waited and waited and waited.  Finally people from the neighbor hood started showing up and the families arrived and their purchases were put into their houses.  They were prayed over, their houses blessed, bibles presented and keys given.  The houses were theirs.  They were very grateful and happy.  The neighbors were happy for them.

We were done, 2 houses in 2 days, 2 families blessed and hope given, a neighborhood coming together.  Yes we were done, but Jesus?  Well HE started long before we got there.  HIS work will keep going.  HE will never leave them or forsake them.  Yes we accomplished something, but only because we were giving the ability through Jesus to do the work.  He provided us with a wonderful company and the vision to go forth into the world.  He gave each of us the ability to work in whatever task we were given.  He gave each of us the means to get there.  He gave each of us the will.  He gave us team members that took care of work while we were gone.  We are so blessed and so spoiled. I am thankful for AC/heat, running water, indoor bathrooms, electricity, access to groceries and the means to cook them.  I am thankful, that HE has never left me nor forsaken me and no matter what life brings, HE will always be with me and has provided me with a new heaven and new earth.  I certainly won’t be at the top of the good list but hopefully I will not be near the end either!

Wednesday morning was like Tuesday, breakfast at the hotel, meet in the lobby have a devotional and maybe not so bright eyed and bushy tailed, but still raring to go.  Paul D.  threw down the gauntlet.  We could finish both houses on the second day.  We were certain our house could be finished, but the other one, well we would see.  Challenge accepted!

We worked very hard, there was trim to put up, painting to be done, 2 roofs to shingle, doors to be hung and electrical to be finished.  Could we do it?  No one was going to tell us no.  Team Paul was determined.  The roofing teams  joined together and went to the other house.  they were going to get one house done and then the other.  Again, it rained on and off.  I have a video of rain in case you don’t remember what rain looks like!  Both house were going well.  As Paul was doing trim and others were doing the wall strips, the paint team was, well painting.  I have painted for years and I don’t play well with others when painted.  Keep in mind the equipment isn’t the greatest.  Small paint brushes that won’t hold paint, roller frames that won’t hold the nap, no roller poles and no buckets with grids only flimsy plastic roller  pans.  I would not have done well.  the ones doing touch ups were using Solo cups (yes red ones) as their work bucket.  Keep in mind they are painting raw sheetrock and raw wood.  God Bless Kelley and the ladies painting.  I started working on the electrical boxes and putting in receptacles and switches.  I was asked if I knew what I was doing.  Any one that really knows me, knows it was very hard to not say a smarty pants remark.  Of course I knew what I was doing.  Finding the right tools was another issue.  The wire they use is only a common and hot, no ground and it is stranded not solid.  In order to make the wires fit in to the receptacles and switches, it has to be separated and cut.  So you need cutters, a wire stripper or razor knife and screw driver.  I was aggravated but determined.  Paul installed the breaker box and the single bulb lights in the 3 rooms and I did the rest.  Finding ladders was a challenge and well I am kind of not tall.  Another reason Paul and I work well together.  The paint team was  duct taping paint brushes to scrap wood to be able to reach higher areas and they did fantastic.    When I was done Sergio ask if I would go to the other house and work on the electrical.  Of course I would.  I don’t like to sit.  Our house was coming together so nicely.  The team was putting up the outside strips and making sure all touch ups and clean ups were done.

I went to the other house and I’ll be darn, I found a better cutter and a ladder.  However, even with the ladder I could not balance well enough to mount the ceiling boxes even with a drill.  I gave up on that and told the guys they would need to do that part.  I went on with the switches and receptacles.  One room was so dark I had to use the light on my cell phone to see what I was doing.  Someone came in and said the bus is leaving.  I said, well I am not done and this is what we lack doing so I am not leaving.  I thought it was pretty clear.  About that time Paul comes in and said Steve S had asked him to stay and finish the electrical, I was assuming I was chopped liver at that point, but I was still going to stay and finish what I was doing.  Adolfo came in and started on the breaker box and Paul was working on the lights.  Steve comes in and tells me the bus is leaving if I was going to get on it. I told him no I wasn’t finished with what I was doing.  He said ok, he and Nadene would be back to get us and about 30 minutes.  Now remember Paul said 2 houses 2 days.  I wasn’t leaving until I was done.  I held my phone light while one of the guys finished the last light.  Just like that 2 houses done in 2 days.  A little clean up was still needed, but all in all it had been a fast and furious and very fun day.

Tuesday morning started out beautiful.  Slight cloud cover, not to hot, but pretty darn humid.  Our day started with breakfast at the hotel and a devotional.  We had gathered in the lobby area of the hotel.  Bright, mostly awake faces, fresh and eager to get started.  We were going back to the same neighborhood we worked in last year and we were ready to see friends we had made last year.  At the work site the Twins divided us up into two groups and then we decided if we really wanted to be in the that group.  I have worked with Paul D. and we work well together.  It keeps his wife Kelley from getting aggravated with him.  Her dad is a retired contractor and sometimes, Paul doesn’t necessarily do things the way she might!  Their boys wanted to work on the roof.  Kelly is an art teacher and chose to paint.  The house we were working on seem to be going up quickly.  We would lift them 1/2 way and then stand them up and some one would secure them to the concrete.  Once interior walls were up in the interior walls were assemble and secured.  The wood they use is so different than ours.  It isn’t finished or kiln dried, but it is such a beautiful color, somewhere between a cedar and redwood and hard!  It was so wet that driving a nail caused water to come out of it.

Once the walls were up the electrical wire was ran and wall boxes installed.  Windows were installed and then the sheetrock went up.  As the sheetrock went up the roofing trusses were built and nailed securely in place.  By the end of the Tuesday, the day of building, the plywood and felt were on the roof our the our house.  This was fast.  Franklin the dad of our family worked hard all day.  He was so sweet and wanted everything to be right.  He knew this was not something he could do on his own, but was quite knowledgeable and skilled.  His Dad Billy sat under a tree everyday watching.  He never came over and almost seemed that he didn’t care, that was not the case at all.  He was amazed and very thankful.

The other house had a lot of struggles.  They had no air flow, were walking up hill in a semi treacherous way.  It was built very close to an existing structure so light was also a challenge.  One wall didn’t stay put and had to be redone.  The roof was a challenge as well.  The YWAM team stayed after we left and finished the trusses, plywood and felt.  As it had been raining off an all afternoon and sheetrock was on the walls.