Long overdue post

Hey guys!

Sorry for not writing in a while. Life gets a little crazy around here, with new teams every week and crazy schedules! The past two teams have been awesome and therefore have not be conducive to blogging as we have usually spent our free time talking and hanging out. In the past few weeks I've really been blessed to meet and interact with some awesome people...and not just the people on the weekly teams. As I said, the past two teams have been absolutely amazing to work with. Mostly, they were people that I could really get along with and have a good time with as we built the shelters and then back on the compound. I felt like I was really able to connect to last weeks team, and I made some very good friends--one in particular, Noelle, a restaurant manager who would like to come back for Samaritan's Purse, would stay up late and have really good conversation. Both those teams really tried to connect with the people in Titanyen, which makes the whole experience so much better. I've also made some friends with the horse-and-buggy Mennonites that are on the compound (for all intents and purposes, think Amish). One in particular is named Tim and he and I have talked about a lot of very deep topics and I have been thoroughly impressed by him. It's funny, he and Noelle and I were talking and we all commented that we felt like we all had known each other for a long time, and I really like these folks. Also, I've uploaded a picture of some of the volunteer workers from the village: (from left ot right) Jude Marie, Pierre, and Sanjus. I love these guys and that are a blast to work with. They don't get paid, but volunteer with us everyday. Usually the teams will give them a little something (which usually amounts to a decent week's wage here). Pierre is really cool to interact with because he's deaf, but he definitely knows what he's doing and livens things up on the worksite!

Well, I hope to have some more pictures and a future blog about my Mennonite friends. So stay tuned...

Matthew ;^)