Today we asked Carlos to call Durwin Hendricks for us to see if today was a good day to go and visit him. Durwin was the young man we met as our waiter on July 22. Carlos agreed to go with us because they have heard that where Durwin lives might be a dangerous area. When we got to the cut off road in Coxen Hole, Durwin was waiting for us. We drove our rental car a little way up the dirt road and figured we couldn’t make it in our car. We (John, Bev & Durwin) climbed in the back of Carlos’s pickup truck. We went up a little farther but the road was so bad the truck wasn’t going to make it either. So Carlos waited in the truck while Durwin lead us up a very steep dirt road. The road had been put in 2 months ago. Before that everyone walked up the mountain through a deep ravine. We walked up the mountain for about 20 minutes while he showed us homes and told us about his community. We learned quickly to take a lot of pictures, because that was the only way to stop long enough for us to catch our breath. Durwin said he makes that walk 4 or 5 times a day. His kids walk it every day to go to school. We finally got to his house. He built it all himself carrying the materials by hand all the way up the mountain. The foundation of his home is cinder blocks. We estimated that he carried close to 200 cinder blocks up the mountain. He has a beautiful family; his wife’s name is Rubenia and his children Stephani – 7, Henrry – 5, and Rossemy – 4. Stephani and Henrry got to stay home from school today because we were coming so we could meet them. In this area there is no electricity and no water. The road has only been there for about 2 months. When it rains it washes out the roads. Their house is about 20’ x 16’. Durwin wants to make two bedrooms and it has a kitchen and dining room area. It does have dirt floors. Two and a half walls are tarp. They would love to close it in before the raining season sets in. He catches rain water from his roof for washing dishes and bathing. He walks down and buys a 5 gallon container of water that he carries up the mountain for drinking. To see these thing will tear your heart out and there are so many just like them. They invited us to go to church with them on Friday night from 6-8 pm. The main church is in Coxen Hole but they are planting a church in their community. It is an evangelical church. Rubenia is a believer, but Durwin is still thinking about it. He is so very close. We told him we would be praying for him. We then drove to West End and ate lunch at the Barking Monkey. Bev had coconut shrimp and John had shrimp fettuccine alfredo. The guy that owns the restaurant and bar is from Austin, Texas. He is trying to sell his boat – don’t you think we would look good in it. We stopped to get gas and at every gas station and every bank they have an armed guard. It is supposed to make you feel safer, but it makes us a little nervous. It was a beautiful evening.