Building a Healthy Future While Building Relationships
Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at 11:35AM 
Beneficiary Don Raca and his neighbors gather for a photo on the team's last day
by Kim Frederick
Building a healthier future while building relationships was the theme of last week's trip from the New Life Assembly of God Church in Exeter, CA. The team partnered with old friends from the Good Samaritan Church in Las Delicias to dig latrines for two homes in the Las Animas area. Their efforts are in support of a larger latrine initiative, headed by Pastor Miguel and his congregation, in which 22 additional latrines will be built for families in need.
Rain poured down in Las Animas on Monday as the team began to dig. Bailing out buckets of water, as well as buckets of mud, the team worked joyfully through the discomfort they must have felt from being soaked “to the bone.” Chipping away at the "talpetate," or hard dirt, was a strenuous task as the narrow holes approached the ideal depth of about four meters (13.12 feet). Pastor Miguel thanked the Exeter team for their efforts, and claimed that their working through the rain, on a day during which most people did not even leave their homes, was a testimony of their faith; something that did not go unrecognized by the community.
Linda Moore gives a haircut in Las AnimasOne evening, the team had the unique opportunity to have dinner at Pastor Miguel’s home and listen to the pastor and his son share their testimonies of the hardships and joys of the past year. Keeping in mind that pastors, who spend their days serving others, are too often overlooked in times of prayer, the group from Exeter spent time encouraging Pastor Miguel and praying for his family.
The team’s enthusiasm to serve and their dedication to the community was apparent. While half of the team spent their days getting to know the community at the worksites, other members of the team spent their days in the local schools giving free haircuts to the students and teachers. “We left our children at home so we could come here,” one team member said, “but now, it’s just as hard to leave the children here who we know and love.” The team from the New Life Assemblies of God Church did not leave saying, “Goodbye,” but instead, “See you later,” as they know their church's plans to continue partnership with the Las Delicias community.
The team posing for a picture after digging all day in the rain. According to Gerson, the ENLACE church coach who works with Pastor Miguel and the Good Samaritan Church, there are about 75 homes in the area that still do not have access to a latrine. Latrines play a major role in the health of a community by reducing fly propagation, water contamination, and the spread of disease. Access to sanitation facilities, clean water and preventive health education have been proven to reduce infant mortality rates by 50 percent.
Just $43 provides a latrine for one person!
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