Who You Say I Am (A Jai Courtney Fanfic)

Chapter 28-Jai

Jai

I'm kind of sad when we're finished with the meal. She grabs an outfit to change into, along with many others. I'm fine in what I'm wearing. I have a few of my nicer duds left at the hotel, the rest I could care less about. I see Luis, Ben, and several others looking over some blueprints at one of the picnic tables. I join them. Luis is giving instruction since this is his specialty. I'm listening in and he's bloody skilled with direction. I peek at the blueprint to see that this'll be a several story building we're constructing.
"We'll have some of the stronger men set up the scaffolding on the outside while my team gets these areas prepped," Luis explains.
I look over my shoulder to realize that there's a metal beam skeleton of the structure we're going to help complete and I realize... we're actually building a school. This is pretty impressive and exciting. The basic layout is already prepared but we're doing the rest of the work. I look around and I can see some kids peeking their heads through the bush in the distance. They're watching us. This'll be their school. That thought actually moves me. I feel like I'm doing something truly worthwhile to help a community.  The kids disappear and I feel a hand rest on my back. I look to see Megan there. I realize what she means about her duds. She looks like she's been painting. There's a myriad of different colors speckled all over her. I recall she was an art student and said she impressed her teachers so much to major in that. I'm definitely interested in seeing some of her work someday.
"What's going on?" she asks me.
"I think they're organizing what they're going to do," I tell her.
We observe as Luis has Izaak, Carlos, Floyd, and Jamal get started. They take what looks to be a chalk measuring line and walk to the construction site. Luis follows with the blueprints. We're left with Pastor Ben. I watch as they take measurements and mark several spots before everyone else has arrived.  Everyone eventually gathers around.
"Alright, remind me again who has had any sort of construction experience, home remodeling, home repairs... anything like that," Ben says holding a clipboard.
Megan raises her hand. A few others, too. They all list out what they've done—replaced faucets, attached appliance cords, painted...
Megan is called on. "I helped Habitat For Humanity build two houses," she says and I'm floored by that. She lists off setting the foundation, building the wooden frame, flooring, electrical, masonry work, mixing cement, roofing... I'm just in awe of all she's done.
Javier raises his hand and mentions that he's hot-wired cars before. A couple people look surprised. "Hey, we've all had a past before Jesus... so electrical experience. Good," Pastor Ben says writing everything on a list. Everyone is separated and I see Megan going off with some of the girls joining Carlos.  I think he's the bricky—aka mason.  She looks over her shoulder and waves to me.  I smile and wave back.  Izaak—the sparkie, or electrician—takes a small group including Javier.  Floyd—the dunny driver— takes a few people to help with plumbing.  The rest of us are left with Jamal.  We're the big guys—Hakeem, Rashaad, Khalan and me.
"Okay, so to remind everyone, I'm currently an apprentice but I'm a jack-of-all-trades," Jamal starts.  "I'm technically studying under Luis to be his assistant.  We're going to handle moving some of the heavy stuff today.  We'll be moving some bricks to get Carlos and his group started and then we'll be setting up scaffolding for the upper levels after that."
We cross the site and I can see tons of equipment set out closer to the road.  I realize that we got off the road before running into this mess.  There's no crossing this with a vehicle until it's all moved.  I actually see large trucks dropping off more supplies as we arrive.  Jamal hands us all some work gloves.  We load up wheel barrels with bricks and take them to the site.  I see Megan showing some of the girls how to mix up cement mortar.  I stop and drop my load off there,  carefully stacking them up so they don't break.  I catch her eye and she smiles at me.  I realize this isn't so bad—I'm getting a workout, helping a good cause, and I'm making eyes with the sheila who has my attention. 
As I move back and forth loading and unloading bricks for this site, I think about how I truly feel about her.  The more time I spend with her, the closer I'm drawn in.  There's just so much I like about her.  She's so incredibly different than anyone else I've ever been involved with.  If she gave me a sign that she's over her latest mistake, I'd make a move but as of now, I don't think she's there yet.  I do think today was a big shove in the direction of getting over him but I think it opened up something shocking for her as well. 
Jamal flags us over and I set down what I'm working on.  We follow him to the scaffolding poles.  We work together carrying them on our shoulders and setting them around the worksite close to where the cement ends.  We make several trips before we're finished laying them down.  Jamal shows us how to set them up and in no time the scaffolding is completely up around the worksite.  I stand back and admire what we've done.  I look down and notice Megan is nearby.  She's watching me and smiling.  She waves to me and pushes a stray hair out of her face before I see her set some mortar down in her work area and add a brick.  I step closer to watch her. 
"You're really making some serious progress," I tell her. 
"Thanks.  So are you," she grins. 
"We're finished actually.  I'm not sure what's next," I tell her. 
She clears her throat and comes a little closer even though there's a new wall between us.  "So... Carlos was saying that when you're done, he wanted you to join us," she says. 
"Alright," I agree easily.  "I'm all yours."
She laughs bashfully and looks up meeting my eyes.  "Come on.  I'll show you how it's done," she says. 
I walk around the length of the wall to join them.  "Hey, Jai!" Jamal calls out to me. 
"Yeah, mate," I reply. 
"We're all splitting up to help with whatever's needed for the rest of the day.  Do you need some help finding work?" he asks me. 
"Nah, mate.  I'm good.  I'm joining Carlos's crew," I tell him. 
"Alright," he nods grinning.  He high fives me.  "Thanks for the help today.  I've never finished so fast before.  I appreciate it, man," he tells me. 
"Anytime, mate.  No worries," I tell him. 
I find my way around and cross through part of a door frame and see her crew is hard at work on the other side.  I realize standing where I am that there are stakes pounded into the ground with strings wrapped around them for guides to make the brick walls straight.  I see those chalk marks along the ground and wonder if those are for dividing rooms.  I notice Gale in the far corner with Floyd.  I think they're setting up the bathrooms and such.  I don't envy her.  The moment she mentioned a faucet, I figured they'd have her set up the taps... and dunnies.  I wanted nothing to do with that. 
I return my focus to my objective and make my way over to her.  She's smiling at my approach.  "So, are we good or is someone else taking you," she nods in the direction of Jamal. 
"Nope.  I'm defo helping you," I tell her smirking. 
She giggles a little in response and shows me what she's been doing.  She grabs a spare trowel and hands it to me.  She helps me get started and this is a first for me. But I'm interested and it's nice to learn a new skill. I observe all that her group has done and they're all around the exterior of the space. It's really coming together.
We start working on putting the bricks into place and after a couple more demos, I feel confident enough to start. We work side by side assembling this brick wall.
"So... Carlos let me put in the cornerstone over there," she tells me. "You know, the first stone in the corner—it holds the whole building together. He mentioned that song I sang—Cornerstone. He asked if you were a Hillsong fan. I told him I'm not too sure what music you're into."
I look to her confused.
"Hillsong is an Australian church. It's pretty famous in the US and I'm sure across the world. I think they have some churches in Tokyo. Anyway, he assumed you'd like them because they're from your homeland," she explains.
I nod in understanding.
"You want to listen to some music?" she asks wiping her hands on her clothes.
"Alright. You've got more of that band? I could let him know if I like it," I suggest.
"Sure," she smiles.
She explains a bit about the church and the band to me. She plays some of the music and it's good.
"I think I prefer you singing this one, though," I tell her.
She laughs in surprise, "Thank you."
We work a little bit longer and she turns to me quietly. "So... what do think about everything?" she asks.
"Which everything?" I tease.
"You know... the volunteering, the church culture... all of those kinds of things," she clarifies.
"It feels nice to do something like this for people. I've never really done anything like this before. I saw some of the kids in the bush earlier. They looked curious and excited," I tell her.
She nods. "What about the church stuff?" she asks.
"I like the people," I tell her. "They're defo friendly and kind, fun and interesting."
"Do you... find our behavior... confusing? Understandable?" she asks.
"A little confusing," I admit.
"Well... you're from an outsider's perspective," she nods. "Is there anything you'd like me to explain?"
"I don't really understand the purpose of it all," I admit.
"Well... then this is probably the most important conversation I could ever have with you," she says seriously meeting my eyes. "We believe that God created all things. That people generally do wrong—that we're selfish and cruel. We believe that God loves us and wants a right relationship with us... but he's perfect and we're not. So... in order for us to be acceptable in his eyes, we have to believe in him and believe what he's done for us to make that relationship right."
"What has he done for us?" I ask her. I move my hand forward to push some stray hairs out of her face. I see that I've got muck on my hand and wipe them off first and continue.
"Well... we believe that Jesus is his son. He came to earth and sacrificed himself by dying in our place to make a way for us if we believe. That's John 3:16 summed up," she explains.
"You showed me that," I nod. "The thing everyone has memorized."
She nods.
"So you believe this Jesus is the son of God?" I ask. She nods. "What's the point of Chrissie?"
"Christmas?" she confirms. I nod. "We celebrate his birth. When he came to earth. I personally enjoy Easter more."
"Why's that?" I ask.
"Because we celebrate his death," she tells me simply.
"You're happy about his death?" I question.
"Not exactly happy. Have you ever heard much about the crucifixion?" she asks.
I meet her eyes and remember a bit in one of my films. "A little bit," I admit.
"Well, it was a Roman method of torture—like the worst way to die ever. We believe that since we all do wrong, the penalty for sin is death. We all must die, but Jesus took our sin upon his shoulders when he was crucified. He was perfect. He never did any wrong but he took our punishment. He suffered the worst, torturous death for us so if we believe in him we can be with him forever in heaven," she explains.
"So you think you won't die," I confirm.
"Not exactly," she says shifting. "I know for certain I will die. But my spirit has two places it can go upon the death of my body—heaven or hell. If I believe in Jesus, I will be with him in heaven forever. This is why I celebrate Easter. It's not that I'm happy about his death. I'm thankful and grateful and sorrowful that my poor choices in life put him up there, but he did it anyway because he loves me that much."
"Your religion is complicated," I tell her.
She laughs and frowns at me. "No. It's so simple. John 3:16. You just have to believe. That's all. You don't have to read the whole book or anything to step forward. After the first step, you take another, and another. But salvation is simple. It just takes a simple act of faith—to just believe with childlike faith," she says motioning with her chin toward the children running around near the pavilion. I turn and see them laughing and running around with Izaak.
"Hey guys. Good work. Finish that up and we're done for the day," Carlos tells us.
"Okay. Thanks," Megan says.
We empty out the rest of the mortar and put some bricks out. We actually finish the row we're working on. We clean off the tools and head to the pavilion.