Doing Our Part

The men getting ready to work

The sounds of the gathering crowd begins early, especially for a Sunday. It’s right at our front stoop. The men and older boys in the center, talking, pointing and pacing around. Along the edge are the women, chatting, laughing and handing out tea and bread to the men. It was the beginning of a community work day! Where a whole neighborhood comes together to get something done, each person doing their part.

We’ve seen them all around the capital over the past several weekends. Mostly it is road projects. People are tired of waiting for the island government to put down new roads, so a neighborhood takes it upon themselves to gather the money together and once the money is collected the men of the neighborhood come and give their free labor to get the work done. On a big work day, the women do their part by gathering and cooking, so all the workers can eat well that day.

The work outside our house has been proceeding steadily. Little work crews of experienced builders have been doing a little more each weekend. First the supporting pillars were put down in the river bed and then all the supports to create a platform extending from the existing bridge and over the “river” (aka trashy gully). The final dream is for there to be a central celebration point for the neighborhood. It will start as a platform but we’re told that eventually it may be a two-story structure.

After weeks of preparations, this Sunday was the big day— mixing and laying the concrete for the whole base. Someone had gone around the neighborhood the previous week with a shiny wrapped box collecting money for everyone. We gave, shooting for a generous gift but not knowing how much people usually give to these things.

On Sunday morning, we headed down and greeted all the women taking advantage of the shade created by the overhang on our stoop. Someone had a camera and was video-taping people giving mini-speeches and prayers for the project. Someone called Tom over and he was asked to give an impromptu prayer of blessing on video for the work ahead (later we found out that his prayer might end up on the radio).

We look at the clock. We’re supposed to be leaving in less than an hour for our Easter holiday celebrations, but we’d love to participate in this community event. The women aren’t really cooking yet, but all of a sudden the last speech is made and all the men set to work. Tom makes the sudden decision to change into work clothes and join the men for as long as he can.

So many people have gathered that not everyone can work at once.  People are doing shifts.  Some are just sitting and watching, but the rest are working in three main groups.   There are the guys preparing and mixing the cement, sand, rocks and water; then there are the men pouring the mixture into buckets and then there is the bucket brigade.  Tom saw a place to jump into the bucket brigade and was soon passing one heavy, messy bucket of slushy cement after another.  They worked fast and bucket after bucket came sloshing along.  Tom worked for about 15 minutes before someone stepped in to relieve him.  (They probably thought the white guy had had enough, but considering that it was time to leave for the Easter celebration, it turned out to be impeccable timing.) 

Back to local island school!

15 minutes might not seem like much but it was important.  Showing up to events and participating shows that you are part of the community.  Time together is a must on the islands.  Our Easter obligations meant we missed the big free lunch (which was too bad), but our absence was noted.  Some rice, fish and sauce were all held back for us.  We had earned it, you see.  We had done our part.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We had a good time celebrating the holiday on Sunday. He is risen! One week of local school is finished and the second week has begun— each day has seemed a little easier for our son. He’s still not excited about going, but there aren’t tears anymore and he seems less nervous. These gradual improvements are answers to prayer! Our second English club had 23 people! We’re excited to see some many islanders in our home, including a number of women (usually it is almost all men).

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Ma Imani’s family (which we are very close with) are embroiled in a family conflict that now has the police and courts involved. Pray that there would be reconciliation in the family and that Ma Imani and her mother could be lights in this dark situation and effective peace-makers. We are hoping to discuss Easter this Wednesday night at our English Club— pray it goes well!