Going up and down

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We took a trip up to Sampedrana last week to see how the road has been faring since the hurricanes and after some of the work that has been done. I must say I was taken aback about still what can be seen around the road, and how much work it must have taken to build it back up and repair after the storms...and that is just the road to the Church, let alone to the farm!

It is a good time of year to take that drive and pick priority points of where we need to invest more to make getting to the farm safer.  It will take years yet to get to a "happy" place...but it starts now, and with an impetus to invest more in smaller places, but work that will be more...concrete, if you will.  Also gravel and digging/widening, but mostly more concrete to get over water, and to improve traction on the worst hills

We also discovered the big, towering tree that overlooked much of the lower part of the farm was struck by lightning.  It will have to be brought down before it falls down, soon. 

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We also need to work on building more "bunk space" for the workers that come up to harvest coffee.  As they are in the middle of harvesting right now, we got to see how they are currently using the one house we have, and how it is less than adequate.  Everyone pays the same amount per pound harvested...but as a mission we can do more to testify and show care to those that invest months working, but giving them better quarters, and maybe looking at how we can help them on the food front as well more intentionally.  
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Given the ability to move about a little more freely, along with the fact that our groups for this year won't start until June (at least) we decided to take advantage of the time to tackle a big and small project that has been needed for the mission house.  

The big project was revamping, changing, and tiling the stairs.  We increased the step size, added a step, and added the grippy tile.  If you ever felt a little unsure going down these stairs...this is a big upgrade.

The second is adding a false ceiling in the hallway above the stairwell.  Which is just a nice "less dust" touch, and if you have been in the house when it is raining now...should cut down on the noise factor.  

With that...we put a close on all the needed work on the mission house for the foreseeable future, which is nice.  

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The Milk Project continues, albeit now going on a year of not having in person classes.

The staff is constantly working/thinking about how to do things differently and be creative.   

I was talking to Maria when I saw some of the "homework" they have been sending out, in addition to the actual schoolwork.  These are lessons that they send out...and that the kids have to turn in when they are done.  

This one is about the birth of John the Baptist, but the fourth question is "What has God done in your life?"   ​