Thursday: Work Day!

Thursday Day 8: Work May 31, 2018

The work today consisted of making a pump house out of cinder blocks for the air pumps that oxygenated the water for the fish. Two of our local friends mixed the concrete without the help of a mixer. Everything is labor intensive. A little sand, a little water, a little concrete a little mixing. Cinder blocks that were not the correct size were whittled to the right size with a machete. The machete is also used to measure distance and dig a hole for the poles.

While some were working on the pump house, Jason went to the “lumber yard” for poles and bamboo. The wood is transported on top of the Land Rover. The poles are used in the place of 4 x 4s. The polls are actually small trees that are about 15 feet long and have all limbs removed. The poles will be used for the shade cloth that will be draped to cover the plants during the hot days.

Bamboo is used to tie the poles together, and to support the shade cloth. Conventional hammer and nails and used to secure all the wood. The shade cloth is secured by zip ties.

The kittens have found the fish so a covering is made for the container that is holding the fish. While all people seem to be working on different projects, a professional soccer team from Tanzania stopped by to see the project. They are in town for a provincial soccer match tournament. The winners receive a prize of approximately $5,000. They were an extremely nice bunch of guys who spoke only Swahili.

While the men were working, our host was leading a Bible study with four young girls complete with balloon art for headwear.

After the shade cloth was hung everyone gathered together for a time of prayer and for lunch. Lunch consisted of rice and boiled chicken. Typically, chicken would be only a monthly affair. Once served, the women and children sat under shade trees while the men sat together under the hut. The men always eat first and the women eat later. Often not eating what they had just prepared. It has been a very productive morning.

Thursday Day 8: Afternoon Bible Study

Andrew led a time of Bible study under the hut from 2 Timothy 2:1-10. The word of God spreads by Paul teaching Timothy and Timothy teaching others. The aquaponics project is an example of people teaching Adam. Adam taught Steven and our host. And, all the men of the community teaching other men of the city. Paul references a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Being a soldier is difficult. There is hard training. The spiritual battle is one that we suffer in together. An athlete must follow the rules. A Christian must play according to Biblical rules. In other letters, Paul calls it obedience of faith. The farmer, the hardworking farmer gets the first fruits of the garden. Our host will do likewise. There is a reward in the end. God will provide the growth.

1 Corinthians, Paul planted, Apollos watered, and God will give the growth. Be faithful to share the gospel. 2jTimoth 4:7-8 says I have fought the good fight (the soldier), I have finished the race (the athlete), I have kept the faith…and afterward, the reward that awaits the victor. One of the believers continues to share from 2 Timothy 2:11-15… “the crown of life is worth suffering for.”

Our evening finished up the community center teaching ESL from 5 pm until 7 pm.