July 13th

Friday the 13th

 

Today we spent the entire day with the high school doing VBS. Actually, Julie and I sent the team in that direction and then the two of us headed down to talk with Florence (social work) regarding a few issues. Our talk was very good and she will get back to us Monday regarding all we asked. 

 

The high school. The day started with singing. Oh, my goodness, what beautiful voices. If I could just channel a quarter of their talent I would be so excited! This all took place in the dining hall, sitting on wooden benches, many of us to a bench. As usual I snuck a front row seat so I could take pictures… Following the singing Taylor (one of the interns) gave a devotional on suffering. She did a great job but it was way too long for the age she was speaking to. Afterwards we broke into small groups to discuss what was said. The basic understanding was that fear drew them to God because no acceptance meant an eternity to hell. There was little talk of God's love and grace. Jason's group (led by one of the teachers) was standing in the hot sun. The teacher TOLD his group that they would stay in the hot sun until they memorized all the questions and gave answers. Thankfully, the principal (Patricia) came by and TOLD him to get those kids out of the sun! After the group meetings, there were actually games for the kids to play. It was so much seeing the kids actually being kids! There is so little time for that but what a joy when they can just act their age! The one game had three lines with cups attached to them. The kids used a water gun to move the cup down the line to the finish line. Some got the cup to move a really long distance; for some it hardly moved. The first one to the finish line was the winner. The next game involved two buckets of water. The objective was to get all the water from the first bucket to the second one by filling a sponge with water and passing it down the line. The last one in line squeezed the sponge dry and passed it back to start again. It is fair to say water was everywhere; but the game was played with enthusiasm! Our group was responsible for making bracelets. Sounds easy enough but in this culture no one was satisfied with just one. We finally put a system in place to make sure that each child only made ONE bracelet. In Jason's words this station was "A missionaries ass whooping". Jacob was in a station that was painting each child's hands to make a mural on a wall. Now that was a mess but awfully fun to watch. The final station had two big parachutes to catch the ball to play volleyball. This was awfully fun to watch and the kids had a blast. As for me, I traveled from station to station taking pictures, until George Bush took my camera and took over! He is one of the cutest and most polite young men I have ever met. He reminds me a lot of Moses and Samuel! 

 

For part of the afternoon Laura and I came back to the room and organized all the sanitary napkin kits that Kathy Ruiter graciously donated to this team. We counted and sorted and then put all the stuff that is going to Andrews together so we don't have to do it first in the morning. I have all the phones, the Ipads, the letters, etc. to take with us to distribute. Our plan is to help Andrew and his community paint the school inside and out. It sounds like a huge project and I hope he and his community have already started. Glenn comes in tonight and it will be good to add him to the team. I look forward to hearing about his time at Gaba. Hopefully our kids from Hope Africa will be coming to help us paint and then we will take them to dinner at Sol. I am so looking forward to seeing them. What a great group they are.

 

Tonight after dinner we are going back to the high school for a sermon from Kay (a pastor from a church in Colorado) and then to watch the first part of a movie, The Passion of Christ. Afterwards they will break into small groups for discussion but Laura and I will be heading back. 

 

Hope all is good in the hood. Steve give Kyle hug for me and tell him congrats. I'm sorry I am not there to witness his wedding. Give Kari and John big hugs as well. I love you.