The first week of April, we welcomed back for the 15th year, Living Hope Baptist Church from Bowling Green, KY.
This team always comes with a heart to serve, and as we were talking about their history and the number of years they have been coming, they have seen and been a part of a lot of BIG events at the Abraham Project!
Saturday night when they arrived, they came to our house for dinner and afterward, they packed all the Easter eggs for the activity with the children's homes kids the next day!
 |
| The Living Hope Team |
 |
| LilyBeth and Jessica stuffing the eggs |
 |
| Steve and Sam "fixing the world" |
 |
| Kenny and Randall |
On Sunday, the team went to church and then had lunch with the kids from the Children's homes.
After lunch, Living Hope had an Easter egg hunt and a piñata party! They kids LOVE looking for the eggs--as it is not part of the culture here.
 |
| Looking for the eggs |
 |
| Even the littles had help |
 |
| Checking out all the goodies |
 |
| All the kids got a go at the piñata--finally had to break it because it was made so tough! |
 |
| Taking a big swing |
 |
| Getting all the goodies! |
On Sunday night, the team went up to Rio Azul for an outreach message and serve dinner to the community. It actually started to rain that day (super early for rainy season) and we were expecting about 100-150 people, but with the rain, we were afraid there weren't going to be very many. In the beginning there were only about 25-50 people, and Bruce decided to go out in the neighborhood to invite people. They ended up serving about 220 people--they ran out of sauce--but Pastor Gilbert said that about 80-90% of the people that came were not from the church. God showed up in a big way.
 |
| Getting ready! |
 |
| Emily was in charge of the spaghetti |
 |
| and the sauce! |
 |
| After feeding about 220 people, the team actually got to eat! |
On Monday, the team went back to Rio Azul to work on electrical wiring of an older gentleman and to work on about 6 more steps to the staircase.
 |
| The stairs down |
 |
| All the way down |
 |
| From the bottom looking up |
 |
| This was the old set of stair that people used. The rest was all dirt and rock, until the new stairs were added recently. |
 |
| Becky and I taking a break out of the sun |
Don Evaristo is an older gentleman (76) that lives in Rio Azul. He recently underwent surgery for stomach cancer. The church has been helping in build a new house and our Living Hope team came in and wired electricity in his house.
 |
| Randall and Don Evaristo |
 |
| Sarah in the steps--forming it up |
 |
| You know, just some water pipes..... |
 |
| The view where we were working and Don Evaristo's house |
 |
| The team with Pastor Gilbert |
 |
| Awww...how cute |
 |
| Don Evaristo -- in his new house |
On Tuesday, a couple of the team members went back to finish Don Evaristo's house and the rest came to the Project to work the rest of the week.
 |
| Don Evaristo was so thankful for the work Sam did on the electrical! |
 |
| Working in the classrooms doing activities |
 |
| This was actually a butterfly body but it made a good mustache! |
 |
| 3-4 year olds |
 |
| 5th and 6th graders |
The one day, the team did the Good Samaritan story. They bandaged the kids up with toilet paper to help them, like the Good Samaritan!
 |
| All bandaged up! |
 |
| Our friend's son, Sebastian |
 |
| Another cutie, Joshua. |
 |
| Our new cook Jenny and her husband, Nix, outside cooking--Olla de Carne! |
Sarah had a nice time working the wood upstairs in the hallway in the daycare. Last year the team cut the wood and sanded it for about 2-3 days. This year, now that the hallway has been painted, the team put up the wood and finished the project!
 |
| Becky and her daughter helped cut the fire brick. |
On Tuesday night, we had dessert at the Thomas' house. Bruce made another cheesecake. This one was a cinnamon roll cheesecake!
 |
| Some were plain, some had peanut butter nut topping (like Georgiana's cinnamon rolls) and some had a Cinnabon icing! |
 |
| Not sure but I think Bruce was planing wood! |
 |
| Randall started working on the water valves--to put in pressure reducing valves to each of the houses |
 |
| Sarah was a master with the wood planer |
 |
| So much so, that she had a good competition with Bruce! |
 |
| Sam was trying to hide from us--put in a new plug for us in the bodega |
 |
| Of course we had newsletters to fold and stuff |
 |
| And yard work--as always! |
 |
| The basically finished hallway--a few more touches, and done! |
For the team's fun day, they went ziplining and went to the Hot Springs in Arenal!
 |
| Fun day up in the cloud forest! |
