A message from Ernie Yoshino . . .

January 22, 2009

Greetings from Panama. As part of the work crew we started immediately on Tuesday morning even though we didn’t get to bed till midnight after having gotten up a one in the morning Monday so that we could get to SF to catch a 6:00AM flight. We arrived in Panama at 10:00pm their time (EST). Walter, Mike and Jack greeted us.
Work had already begun, with all the materials here – blocks, sand, gravel, cement. Lyn was upset that they didn’t have a mixer, we had to mix all the ingredients on the carport and then we mixed it in a old wheel barrel that could hardly stay up right, so we sent Walter to buy us a new one. The locals mix their concrete on theground with the water right on the concrete driveway. We hauled the mixture to the backyard and used a hoe to mix in the wheel barrel then shovel it into the footings.
Once we laid a thin (4”) thick x 12” wide pad (footing) and once it was set up we then laid 6” wide concrete blocks. Then we filled them with concrete, then add another row of blocks, fill them with concrete and then we use 4” blocks for the fence. So far we are getting ready to start the 4” thick blocks. Which is right at ground level. All the work so far has been below ground, which is killing our backs.
Weather has been great, cloud cover to keep the hot sun off us. In the late afternoons there is a cool breeze which we can’t wait for it to come. Sheila has been cooking for us (great food) so we haven’t tried Mike’s spam yet.
Days are exhausting, but rewarding for the work that’s been doing by the work crew and especially by the “Let’s start Talking” group, there are 4 sessions going on in different parts of the house, inside and out. People are so excited about reading English and especially about Jesus.
Continue to pray for the group here and for the same type of weather we have been having. During cancellations we have put Mike to work. (see pictures)

Ernie Yoshino