Chief Cornerstone...

We had another blessed and successful work week.  The whole crew, 8 men, started Monday morning at 7:30 AM with a time of prayer and Psalm 127.  I  had asked Jose to read Psalm 27, and wanted to share a few thoughts from it...but...he thought I said 127.  It was totally the Lord, because the first verse in that Psalm is one that we have constantly been quoting this past month... "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it..."

It was perfect that the Lord worked out that little mistake.  With that verse in mind, the men went right to work and worked hard and fast!

Chayo and Jorge...mixing concrete for the footings...

Alejo, Eloy and Florentino pouring the concrete footings...

The footings were finished and dried by Friday morning.  It was then time to begin to lay the blocks and build the walls.  The most important part of the wall is the "cornerstone".  Its the first stone that you lay.  That sets the stage for how every block afterwards will turn out.  If the cornerstone is off...then the wall will be off.  If the cornerstone is level and set just right...then all other blocks that follow will be fine.  What a beautiful picture of Psalm 118...

"The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone" (Psalm 118:22)

Jesus quoted this verse in Matthew 21 when speaking to the chief priests and elders.  He was referring to Himself as the Chief cornerstone.  What a wonderful picture of the importance of Jesus in our life.  With out that cornerstone (without Jesus)...everything will be off in our lives.  However, with Jesus as our CHIEF cornerstone...everything will be just fine.  I'm so thankful for those physical reminders of His glorious truths!

Here is Eloy and Alejo, setting the cornerstone...the first block of sum 8,000 blocks...

On Friday, the team laid 369 blocks.  Our goal is to average about 300 per day...so we are off to a wonderful start.  On Saturdays, the team works a 4 hour day, 7:30-11:30 AM...and yet they were able to lay close to 150 more blocks.  If they keep this rate up, we should have the outer walls and structure completed in 4 weeks....WOW!  This reminds yet of another passage of scripture...where Nehemiah and his crew, who had a "mind to work," finished building the wall in 52 days!

Here's what it looks like after a day and a half of working...

Another view of the wall...workers...and beautiful sunrise...

Saturday is pay day, which is probably the highlight of the day for the men.  After work, I handed the brothers their envelope with money.  I was blown away when immediately after opening their envelopes, 2 of the men handed Pastor Luis money...telling him they wanted to tithe and give to the church.  Jackie was standing next to me and said, "wow...talk about giving of your first fruits..." We finished the day with a sweet time of prayer and then as we were leaving, a number of the brothers said we'll see you tomorrow at church.

What a wonderful way to end the week...thank you Jesus!