friendships and a new baby!

our friends the lopez family (one of the 12x12 families) knocked at the door yesterday asking if we could be available to help them get their daughter in-law home from the hospital. she had just had an emergency c-section and had no way to get home (the doctor said she could not ride the chicken bus!).

today we received the call and brooke and I headed to san felipe to get them. mom wasn't feeling great, but their sweet little daughter was perfect and precious.

they all (extended family and cousins included) piled into the truck and after a quick pharmacy stop we got them home. before we left, this family who only a couple months ago lived in a tiny tin shack on a dirt floor asked me what my charge was for the trip. brooke and i looked at him like they were crazy and I said "we are friends! this is what friends do!"

they insisted that we at least stay for a soda, so we did. we prayed over the baby told them we'd check back in a day or two.

tonight at our dS gathering, we were praising God for these types of things. it's the relationships that we cherish - the friendships. that is the fruit from all of the other ministry work that we do.

in fact at each 12x12 key ceremony we tell the families: "we pray that now that your new home is complete, it can just be the beginning of our friendship. we are not interested in simply building homes and saying goodbye!"

this particular family is a great example of this. our friendship with juaquin and maria is genuine, and we love their 4 kids like our own! today was just one little reminder of the friendships in this community that God continues to build.