My day started out with a run with Miranda, of course. It was rather nice to be up and outside before everyone else is around, because it was so quiet and peaceful. Then we were all ready to do toast and/or bagels for everyone (Akron COB people eat toast, Mt. Zion Road COB people eat bagels).
Then we headed to Gethsemani. We had two groups of younger kids - we did a song, then the evangecubes, then Hallelu-Hallelujah (both in English and Spanish....Gloria a Dios!). In the second group, I saw a little girl and I just stared, because it looked just like Madelin from last year - and she saw me and kept looking at me, too. Finally I went over to her and asked, "Madelin?" She nodded. I asked her if she remembered me and she smiled and nodded again. I was so happy! I had Miranda take a picture of us and I gave her a bracelet.
The next two groups were older, grades 6-9 and 10-12. We did "Here's My Heart" by David Crowder and then got into groups with them and they asked us questions and then we did questions that Ryan asked, and if they could answer them (or went up and tried) they got to choose a prize - out of nail polish and food. Jefferson was in the first group so we got to say hi to him, and he gave us three from last year hugs. We also saw some of the teachers that we remembered from last year. After both of those classes there was a half hour recess that we just hung out during. I saw Linda (Rodriguez) and she gave me a hug.
After break for two hours (11-1) was their devotion time - so, the church room was packed, and we all stood along the side or in the one corner (although, throughout the service, the two teachers by the door kept bringing in more chairs until we were all sitting, even though we told them we were fine). Worship was great, even if it was in Spanish. Ryan was supposed to have an hour to preach, but it ended up being more like twenty minutes or a little less. His message was really good and done very well. During when Linda played Oceans Ryan had us spread out throughout the kids to pray over them - first it was just me, Miranda, and Kyle, and then Matthew joined us. I told Miranda that we're Ryan's personal ministry team and he overheard and said that we really are.
After that we left for lunch at the compound. It was then that Ryan pulled both Miranda and I aside and quietly told me that he had had a text from Emily - my grandma had died. I was kind of expecting it, to be honest, because of what had happened the night before I left. It does make it harder to sink in, though, when you're in another country.
After lunch we went to San Bartolome to help with a group of kids (and their parents) - it was the same ministry as the school that we helped to build, but since the building there isn't finished, they met at another place. And Jefferson and Madelin were there when we got there! I started to walk over to Madelin and she smiled, and when I was about a yard away she came towards me and opened up her arms for a hug. Later, we were excited to see Katelin and Kenani (whose arm was still in a sling from when he broke it earlier in the year). While Kyle was playing soccer, I kept Kenani company since he couldn't play. I got out my camera and let him take a picture of Kyle. A few moments later, he gave me his silly band. He's such a sweetheart - they all are! Miranda started handing out the bookmarks and salvation bead bracelets that the people at her work made, and this one tiny little boy stood in front of and looked at me, a bookmark in his hand and his eyes big. I knelt down and asked him (in Spanish) how old he was, and he held up two fingers and said "dos." Then I asked his name and he said "Antonio." He was so cute. I talked to Jefferson a little and found out that he wants to be a tour guide - which he would be really good at, he's 16 and his English is really good - I mean hey, he was our translator there that afternoon!
When it was time to leave, Jefferson was awesome and called Katelin and Madelin over for me so I could say goodbye. But then a few minutes later Madelin came running out to me and just wrapped both arms around me and attached herself so much so that I could barely move. And she didn't let go until I saw Ryan sitting in the van, ready to go, making his "ok, it's time" look and we had to pry ourselves away from all of our little friends.
Supper was at the compound: salad, cheesy-ish but maybe with squash soup, lemonade tea, zucchini pieces that weren't too bad, rice, and a rolled-steak thing with carrots and onions inside and a sweet sauce and pieces of ham on top. It was all really yummy. There was flan for dessert, and a lot of us just gave ours to Brian because he's one of the few who actually likes it.
We ended the night with a short meeting and then the rest of us did some worship.
Then we headed to Gethsemani. We had two groups of younger kids - we did a song, then the evangecubes, then Hallelu-Hallelujah (both in English and Spanish....Gloria a Dios!). In the second group, I saw a little girl and I just stared, because it looked just like Madelin from last year - and she saw me and kept looking at me, too. Finally I went over to her and asked, "Madelin?" She nodded. I asked her if she remembered me and she smiled and nodded again. I was so happy! I had Miranda take a picture of us and I gave her a bracelet.
The MZRCOB group doing the evangecubes
The volcano that we could see from the window - how beautiful!!
The kids praying - these kids were not in their uniforms, but in job outfits. Must have been career day for them!
Reunited with my friend Madelin (age 9)!
The next two groups were older, grades 6-9 and 10-12. We did "Here's My Heart" by David Crowder and then got into groups with them and they asked us questions and then we did questions that Ryan asked, and if they could answer them (or went up and tried) they got to choose a prize - out of nail polish and food. Jefferson was in the first group so we got to say hi to him, and he gave us three from last year hugs. We also saw some of the teachers that we remembered from last year. After both of those classes there was a half hour recess that we just hung out during. I saw Linda (Rodriguez) and she gave me a hug.
Kyle, Colin and Rebecca hanging out with some of the students
After break for two hours (11-1) was their devotion time - so, the church room was packed, and we all stood along the side or in the one corner (although, throughout the service, the two teachers by the door kept bringing in more chairs until we were all sitting, even though we told them we were fine). Worship was great, even if it was in Spanish. Ryan was supposed to have an hour to preach, but it ended up being more like twenty minutes or a little less. His message was really good and done very well. During when Linda played Oceans Ryan had us spread out throughout the kids to pray over them - first it was just me, Miranda, and Kyle, and then Matthew joined us. I told Miranda that we're Ryan's personal ministry team and he overheard and said that we really are.
All of us during worship
After that we left for lunch at the compound. It was then that Ryan pulled both Miranda and I aside and quietly told me that he had had a text from Emily - my grandma had died. I was kind of expecting it, to be honest, because of what had happened the night before I left. It does make it harder to sink in, though, when you're in another country.
After lunch we went to San Bartolome to help with a group of kids (and their parents) - it was the same ministry as the school that we helped to build, but since the building there isn't finished, they met at another place. And Jefferson and Madelin were there when we got there! I started to walk over to Madelin and she smiled, and when I was about a yard away she came towards me and opened up her arms for a hug. Later, we were excited to see Katelin and Kenani (whose arm was still in a sling from when he broke it earlier in the year). While Kyle was playing soccer, I kept Kenani company since he couldn't play. I got out my camera and let him take a picture of Kyle. A few moments later, he gave me his silly band. He's such a sweetheart - they all are! Miranda started handing out the bookmarks and salvation bead bracelets that the people at her work made, and this one tiny little boy stood in front of and looked at me, a bookmark in his hand and his eyes big. I knelt down and asked him (in Spanish) how old he was, and he held up two fingers and said "dos." Then I asked his name and he said "Antonio." He was so cute. I talked to Jefferson a little and found out that he wants to be a tour guide - which he would be really good at, he's 16 and his English is really good - I mean hey, he was our translator there that afternoon!
Me and Madelin
The kids who went up for prayer
Katelin and Madelin
Joann holding an adorable little girl who loved to show everyone that she is one year old!
Jefferson not knowing how to pose for a picture. ;)
Kyle and his buddy Kenani
When it was time to leave, Jefferson was awesome and called Katelin and Madelin over for me so I could say goodbye. But then a few minutes later Madelin came running out to me and just wrapped both arms around me and attached herself so much so that I could barely move. And she didn't let go until I saw Ryan sitting in the van, ready to go, making his "ok, it's time" look and we had to pry ourselves away from all of our little friends.
Supper was at the compound: salad, cheesy-ish but maybe with squash soup, lemonade tea, zucchini pieces that weren't too bad, rice, and a rolled-steak thing with carrots and onions inside and a sweet sauce and pieces of ham on top. It was all really yummy. There was flan for dessert, and a lot of us just gave ours to Brian because he's one of the few who actually likes it.
We ended the night with a short meeting and then the rest of us did some worship.
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