This morning began with a beautiful sunrise and the sound of the ocean in the near distance. Sitting outside, reflecting on 1 Peter 4 while a gentle breeze flowed by, provided the perfect setting to reflect on God's goodness and write my first blog post. Peter's encouragement to love one another earnestly is so important for Christians in the Church, but it is also vital on mission teams. We are called to love one another in a way that covers "a multitude of sins." Or, as Paul writes, "Love bears all things" (1 Cor. 13:7). It's important to learn to let little things slide and not hold on to offenses that can create strife. Nobody is perfect, so learn to love imperfect people. Serve one another and use your gifts to bless others for God's glory.
Anna shared during our evening debrief how meaningful it has been to use her gifts on this trip. She almost didn't bring her ukulele, but at the last minute she thought, "Why not?" Tomorrow, she will use her ukulele and voice to teach children a song about Jesus, and on Sunday she will help lead worship at church. How cool it is to see God using her gifts to bless others during this trip!
This morning, we gathered as a team for devotions. Kayla and Jocsan shared the story of how God called them to begin Casa Abba Children's Home and ministry. They told us about stepping out in faith, trusting God to provide, how they acquired the property, and how construction began. After seeing the property last night, it was so good for the team to hear the story behind it all. It is an amazing testimony of God's faithfulness and their perseverance. Please continue to pray for them as their vision and ministry continue to grow.
When we arrived at the property, we split into two groups. The boys went with Jocsan to earn their PhDs—that is, to become Post Hole Diggers! They dug four holes for poles that will eventually hold solar-powered lights and bring illumination to the property. The boys worked hard in the hot sun! After lunch, they headed into town to pick up posts, concrete, and more paint. It's easy to take stores like Home Depot, Lowe's, and Menards for granted because things don't work quite the same here. The boys had to visit four different stores to gather supplies, and even then, they weren't able to bring everything back today. The posts had to be ordered and will be ready for our next visit.
The girls and I stayed behind with Kayla to paint the new office building. I spent much of the day on a ladder taping windows and doors while the girls got busy painting. They did an excellent job and never complained. Unfortunately, we ran out of paint, or they likely would have finished the entire building today. No worries—we'll finish it on our next trip.
After cleaning up the property and securing the tools, we headed back to Casa Jubilee for a delicious home-cooked meal featuring Vero's chicken fajitas. Amazing! Vero, Jocsan's mom, is preparing breakfasts and several dinners for us this week, and she takes such great care of us. Thank you, Vero!
This evening was a quieter one as we talked through our plans for tomorrow. We practiced making Gospel Bead bracelets and reviewed our roles for the kids event. It was encouraging to hear during our debrief how much the team was impacted by hearing Kayla and Jocsan's testimony before serving at the property today. It is such a blessing to be part of this ministry and to help create a future home for little boys and girls.
We also had the opportunity to watch the USA's World Cup match before heading to bed. Tomorrow comes early—we need to leave by 6:00 a.m. to make the hour-and-a-half drive to the village. Please pray for safe travels, strength and energy, and boldness as we proclaim the Good News of Jesus through games, songs, and crafts. We are excited to see what God will do!
Thanks for reading, and God bless.
No comments:
Post a Comment