Too many wonderful surprises

Upon arriving at Km 38, which is the main site for construction and living for those involved with the project, I was really surprised as to how nice the house was we were to be living in for the next 10 months. The previous SM’s had been living in tents, taking bucket showers, using a hole in the ground as a bathroom, basically camping for a whole year. With this knowledge, I had planned to be living be rough for a while, at least a couple months until there was running water to have a shower. The five of us girls (all from Southern) were taken aback by how large the house was. The house consists of five bedrooms, each with two beds, and a kitchen. There is also a main eating/social area in the middle. The roof is made of tin (which is going to make those downpours of rain extra loud) and the floor is made of cement. The walls are all made of wood, hand chopped and cut from the jungle. Lots of sweat and hard work was put into our wonderful new place we call home! After getting a tour of the area, getting a run-down of the bucket shower process and checking out the bathroom situation, I quickly realize that taking a shower will take longer than normal and it might just be safer to not go to the bathroom at night because coming face to face with some creature staring at you in the middle of the night is not my idea of a good time, especially when you are half-asleep.

But God is amazing!! Less than 24 hours into our stay we are surprised with our first miracle. The Peruvian workers have been working hard laying water pipes and building the shower, but we had been told it would be at least another couple weeks or so. Somehow the men completed the shower by mid-morning. Some of the girls had already experienced a bucket shower earlier, but I was privileged to be the second person to take a “real” shower. It was a super amazing surprise! Then, by mid afternoon they have the toilet installed and we are able to use the bathroom in style, without after to squat over a maggot infested hole and having to walk though questionable territory (especially at odd hours of the night). Granted we had to pour water ourselves because the flush wasn’t working, but that’s not a big deal. I just couldn’t believe how amazing it was to be upgraded to a real shower and bathroom so quickly upon our arrival! So spoiled!!

By Friday, the Peruvian workers had set up a sink outside the house with running water and also a sink in the bathroom! And Friday afternoon, there was even running water in the kitchen sink. I just couldn’t believe how spoiled, but incredibly blessed we all were to be able to live pretty comfortably (minus the mosquitoes). God has blessed so much already!!