The Move: Cleaning Day

Today was Cleaning Day at the new site.  Yesterday Daisy asked for volunteers from our Adult Women’s group, and approximately eight women committed to coming this afternoon to clean.

Kimberley bought the essentials for a thorough Dominican scrubbing – a gallon of bleach, and a large bag of powdered clothes detergent.  Cleaning here is done with water, lots and lots of water.  One of our fellow missionaries joked and told us not to forget a garden hose...

¡Gracias!

This morning some of our Little Girls came for class.  We painted signs spelling out Gracias and Thank You, and the girls got to work decorating them.  They did such a great job! 

We switched the order so Rosalyn could have her "U"

Getting them to stand in order was pretty hilarious, as they only wanted to hold the letters they had decorated! 

It took some convincing to stop a determined Rosalyn (age 7) from holding up her “S” (from Gracias) and “U” (from Thank You)!  Finally, we got the pictures snapped.

And, truly, we say Gracias and Thank You.  For those of you who contributed financially, for those who have been diligently praying for this new site , for those who have come and helped minister – both in Social Work and Construction, Gracias!! 



"Wet" cleaning
(notice how much natural light is coming in from above!)

Most of all, we say ¡Gracias a Dios!  You know, it’s amazing if you think about it.  Through His Spirit, God has led people from many places, many walks of life, to give, to pray, to come and serve. 

Like the signs, each one had a part.  Perhaps it may have seemed small, but like each individual letter, it was an important part of God's perfect plan.  And now, in His perfect timing, the pieces have come together to make something beautiful.

After lunch, the women came, armed with their brooms.  Unlike back in the U.S., brooms here are used to move water, not dirt.  As one of the women told me, you Americans clean Seco (dry), we clean Mojado (wet). 

Fastest way to a clean counter - hose it down!

Ramona came in, surveyed what had to be done, said something, and disappeared.  Soon, she returned… with a hose!  Some of the women wore flip flops, others kicked off their shoes and cleaned in bare feet.   

Scrubbing & Singing praise!

As they cleaned, the women sang praise songs.  It was so awesome to see them sweeping the water, laughing, praising God.  It wasn’t a church service, but, oh, it was worship! 

One of the songs said, Your Spirit is in this place.  Another said, The Spirit moved across the waters, now He moves in me. 

The way Dominicans clean is different from how most Americans clean.  The songs they sang were in Spanish, not English.  And yet, the same Spirit was present.  What a blessing, what a privilege, to serve Him together!

The women left with their brooms, having used most of the bleach and detergent, with the floors and walls still wet.  But, everything was lovely and clean, and the sense of fellowship and of the Spirit, made it a sacred space.

So you can see more of the girls' pretty drawings!

Holy Father, we praise you, we worship you, we sing out Gracias and Thank You.  May all of our lives be worship, praising You together. 

Oh, Jesus, may we be faithful to use our new Site to proclaim that in only in You, we are redeemed and set free. 

Holy Spirit, we are humbled by Your presence with us today, and every day.   Continue to move in us, and through us, we pray.