Linares Six
The Final Day

They say it never rains in Chile in the summer. Well, today it certainly rained a cold rain in Linares! So, being flexible, we attacked the inside. The tile man asked us not to work on the bathroom ceiling while he was still there so that is not finished. Just as we were finishing all we could do, the sun came out and it started to warm up. After lunch we were able to continue painting the outside. We were able to paint the entire front and the poured columns on the visible side. The bricks had already been sprayed a yellow. We leave tomorrow. Not all the work we wanted to do was completed but that is the way a Vision for Chile trip goes every year. If only we had a few more people we would have been able to do more but there still would have been unfinished tasks. Tasks seem to multiply! We are all tired and weary but had a blast! We can hear the girls outside playing as we wait to go to dinner. At times we can even hear the lion down the street let out a roar! (There is a zoo within walking distance that only costs a 1,000 pesos ($2.00 but who had time to go.) Sunday we could have gone but were too tired. We also could have gone horse back riding.

The time really flies down here. It seems like we just arrived but when we look at how different the building looks we realize we put in eight hard days of work. At noon tomorrow the bus comes to take us back to the Hogar to join the rest of the team. It will be exciting to see all of the work they have done. Then on Thursday, we will take the bus to Vina Del Mar for our much needed rest. Continue to keep us in prayer for safe travels.

We just returned from a special dinner thanking us for our work. Ruth, Rafael, Patricio (a worker from their church and another school) and Elba (our cook) joined us. We have almost grown as close to them as we have to our team mates. Patricio is a tireless worker who is willing to do any job. Elba (who is a seamstress by trade) spent hours in the kitchen preparing delicious Chilean dishes.

Bob Howen

Linares 6
Lunes (Monday)

We are practicing our flexibility. We thought that we had until Wednesday evening to finish up our projects but found out we need to leave Linares on Wednesday. The good news is that we will get to see the Hogar and will be there for the fiesta. The bad news is that we lose a day of work. Tonight we had dinner with the girls in the school dining room and had ice cream, cookies and chips for dessert. They have warmed up to us. We made a list of things that had to get done and marked them off as they were completed. We have forty feet of baseboard to put down, do the bathroom ceiling, clean the floors and the inside will be finished. This afternoon we started painting the outside and will see how far we get tomorrow. The school has put up a large banner advertising that the second dormitory will be open when school opens next year in March. Ruth is praying that they will have forty girls by then. Two of the girls saw us painting the front of the school Friday and went home telling their parents that the boarding school was closed and was now for adults. They were not at school today! But the principal called and all has been straightened out. So, tomorrow we work, work, work and pray that we get as much done as possible! Two of the girls helped carry the scaffolding. Lee also had them moving the scaffolding as he was painting.

God is so good! Pray that what we get accomplished will be a help and encouragement. We are beginning to feel the affects of the past week (or three weeks for most of us). Be praying about next summer…come join us! Lord willing we will be together on the House of Hope! We will try to get a final update out tomorrow with pictures of the completed projects.

Bob Howen

The Linares Six

As you know by now, there has been a problem in getting updates onto the web.
This is the update that keeps on growing!

Day Two

The two rooms now have new bead board ceilings. The crown molding has been painted prior to re installation. The taping and first mudding is done in one room. It always seems that it is slow starting but by the end of the day a lot has been accomplished. A lot remains to be done.

We are worn out at the end of the day. The hot water in our building has been fixed. We have been going to the school or the kitchen for showers. Not a far walk.

Two men started on the tiling of the bathroom. That is a big help as it would have been too much for the six of us. The plumber will come and replaced sinks, drains and water lines. Pray that all of the necessary work can be done with the limited time and finances.

Please do not let the team at the Hogar know this but we have a Chilean cook that has been making authentic Chilean meals for us. At lunch we had soup and were introduced to a salsa to put on our bread and salad. Tonight we had homemade bread and sopaipillas with the salsa from lunch and a green chili sauce. Delicious. Then came the mashed potatoes with a vegetable beef gravy. Afterwards we walked to the Alliance Campground that is on the same property. Very lovely. (Tomorrow we are having more of the bread for breakfast!)

Day 3

After a breakfast of oatmeal, bread and salsa; we headed to the school for a special program. What a great group of kids and dedicated teachers! Then it was off to work. The ladies demolished the last two storage cabinets. More drywall seams were taped and mudded. Varnish applied to the new bead board. One room painted. More mudding, sanding and painting tomorrow. Tonight we had the girls over for cookies and ice cream after dinner. It is all about the girls, even in Linares! Our first goal in the morning is to get one room finished so everything can be moved into it. Then, continue the march.

We are all healthy here and doing fine. We have been praying for our fellow team mates in La Pintana as they have had some health issues. Join us in praying for them and continue praying for safety for all and completion of all the needed tasks. (more…)