Available…for His glory.

Big circle this morning- all the kids of Emmanuel except for the toddlers and babies. Started with a bit of s rainbow. Today’s story take away was Jesus is with me. Fitting for Emmanuel- God with Us 

Will be squeezing in time with kids today and this afternoon watergames with the little big boys. 

Thank you for praying this week! 

This morning was a great last morning with circle times.  We have had a lot of feedback from staff that they have really enjoyed it.  There are 4 lessons and each and there are 2 groups of team members for each story so we go to different houses each day.  The plastic bracelets we had out at the end of each circle have been a big hit- So today each kid, jr staff and staff have all 4.  

At the small boys house today we did the story of when Jesus walked on the water.  We read it, then the kids told us piece by piece what happened in the story, then they acted it out then we asked application questions.  During the questions we asked the children if they thought that Jesus was mad when Peter sank in the waves and wind and he was asking "you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  Most of the children said yes. One boy said No.  When we asked him why he said no he said "Because Jesus is Merciful."  We explained that it is easier to stay in the boat scared than get out when Jesus says to. We then asked if they need help have their in charge people ever been mad when they go ask for help- No was the reply.  We reminded them that Jesus is just like that.  He wants us to come to Him.  And He is always the one that has what we need and He is always enough.  

The team is busy writing notes and letters to kids this morning while they are in school and this afternoon off with kids… tomorrow is the last day and we can all feel it. So the urgency is to spend time while we can.  

Lisa and Arianna shared at the big girls bible study this afternoon.  Both of their testimonies were very good and applied to a lot of the kids.  The staff member who tied up the end of bible study explained to the girls that they are blessed to live in a place where the word is taught daily and the problems they have are not because they live here at OE or because they live in Honduras.  That God will work in their lives like the lives of Arianna and Lisa if they will let him. 

Staff and volunteers came up tonight.  We had a table of things we wanted to bless them with- each lady got a little bag with facial scrub and homemade loofas as well as 2 bottles of bath and body wash or lotion.  The rest was for them to take as they needed- the staff were very appreciative and everything was gone off the table with the exception of one item. It is so encouraging to get to bless the staff in a small way like dinner at the team house and some small gifts.  

Sorry for the lack of photos, It has been tried numerous times of the day and even posting one at a time, the connection just won't stay long enough to upload them. Will upload the extras we had planned to post when back in the states. Also several videos from circle times and other things. (I found out tonight the internet is bad in the office and everywhere around here… soooo we shall see tomorrow). 

Thoughts from team members today:

WE got to pray for 2 kids today- one in the yard was so upset so I prayed with him. Then I ran into Wendy and she wasn’t feeling good so I prayed with them.

We got to play with the special needs boys and do the catapults with them today because we couldn’t go to the school and they really loved it.

I got to see Karlita today, I knew here when I was 11 and I got to see her when I went up to the special needs girls but when I went to leave I found out Karlita was over at the house the whole time and I got to see her and spend time with her. They had been telling her I was here and she didn’t believe them.

I was hanging out with Jesus most of the time today and I went down to drama and the main character wasn’t there because she didn’t want to do it. But Jesus knew all the parts from practice the other night so he caught on really quickly and he could do it.

Today was the first time taking anyone to the snack shop. I was watching her yesterday and I just sat with her on the steps and talked to her. So I decided to take her to the store and used my translate and it worked so we could talk to each other. She wished she had met me earlier in the week so we can be friends. She asked if I would come next year. I said I didn’t know and she typed in my translate I will pray you will come if God sends you so now I am wondering if that is the first thing for God to be telling me to come next year.

I was nervous about sharing and after lunch we prayed and while sharing I looked over and saw 4 girls crying and I knew that it meant something.

I had one of the kids tell me they loved me…not because I took them to the store, but it was genuine and it meant a lot.

I got to translate for one of the boys yesterday and then today he came and found me today and wanted me to translate again. And it was encouraging that my Spanish is useful for more than just “ask them to sponsor me.” But really meant something.

Today was special for the drama practice and sharing but also because I have made friends with 3 of the girls especially. Some of the kids have lost interest because I keep saying no I am not taking them to the store. I told them later in the day I would come play with them after I went to the toddler house and I found them and they saw photos of my children and they asked me a very personal question. They asked if I loved them and I said yes and I said yes I missed them. Their faces brightened. I just told them that they are not forgotten. They laid their heads on my legs and I just keeping that I am only here for a week… and it is in those moments that I realize we do what we can with the moments that we have.   It was really cool to see when we share our lives with them, they share their lives with us.

Today is the day we feel like we start running out of time for things! Sam and Matt are leading science hands on experiments in the elementary school the next 3 days- catapults with popsicle sticks, rubber bands, mini marshmallows and a spoon.  Sam is really excited to get it going today. 

Last night as we went to bed Lisa's room was laughing about her english with spanish accent and she said "But what happens in Honduras stays in Honduras right?!"  We said "unless it's on the blog!"  We have heard laughter again this morning about it. 

Some of the high schoolers were doing a fundraiser by selling baleadas today- tortilla with beans and eggs (sometimes sour cream).  It's a thin fold over and includes a bag with koolaid in it.  The fee was $1 so we all bought one and some of the team members bought some for the kids.  We aren't sure right now how much money they made, but the kids cooked the tortilla in the kids tortillaria and the high schoolers put it all together.  When we told them we would get 22 they got really excited.  So lunch today was baledas and sandwiches with fruit and chips. 

A container came in today from Chattanooga so a few team members went to the warehouse to help unload it.  The containers come almost monthly and are full of supplies for the children.  Food and furniture and personal supplies for staff and children.  Sponsors can send gifts and letters for their sponsor children to Chattanooga and they come in the container.    

The drama team did their presentation tonight- the older kids go to church, so they all got to see it. I will post it after we get back and have good internet:) 

Kiersten and Megan shared their testimony during service tonight- it was humbling and encouraging. 

Mami Lydia's birthday was today- we got to cheer for her during church and the staff had a surprise party in the gym after church.  

Lourdes Avila (Little Lourdes) who works in the baby house shared with us after dinner.  Sarah the director in the office came to translate and eat a little fried chicken Veronica cooked for us (it was amazingly good fried chicken.)  When asked how we can pray for her she answered to have a lot of strength in the Lord and His intelligence. It has been sweet to get to pray with the staff that have shared.  

A lot of the team had moon pies for dessert. They were told if they eat them we can always find more in the warehouse :) 

During dinner someone from the youth group facetimed one of the team members and there was a lot of yelling and waving and heys! It is amazing what technology can do from so far away! 

We are coming into the home stretch here- 2 more days at Emmanuel.  Tomorrow is the last circle (bible study morning devotion time) and Friday we will have big circle together.  Lisa and Brianna will be sharing tomorrow night with the big girls of Emmanuel.  

Team Members thoughts tonight:

I taught these girls how to do cotton eyed joe and they loved it.

We were talking to one of the boys we have been talking to this week and we had a discussion about how he wants to be happy and it’s hard for him and we got to pray for him.

I got to talk to one of the big girls who is the older sister of one of my sponsor kids. She is in discipleship group and she talked about it for a long time and was excited about it.

River’s twins stopped writing in my book that they love river and wrote they love me. Lol

Kiersten and Megan did a great job sharing tonight and the drama team did a great job. The kids really listened and I think they heard the message they both had to share. Mami Lydia referred to the drama at the end of service…I think it was timely.

Will be loading photos as they will load! :) 

Thank you for praying! 

This afternoon was full of kids and activities. Some of the team went over to the vocational school that Mike Madsen from the states has gotten built and going.  The kids in that program after 3 years will have certification to go out and get a job.  Right now the focus is woodshop and electrical. 

Formal activity today was dodgeball with the medium boys after their dinner.  The kids started practice for the independence day parade today so the band is doing the drumline over at the school and you can hear it across campus. Lots of time with the special needs boys in the yard, toddlers and babies was happening today.

Maddy is feeling much better- she just needed some fluids and she got perked right up, came out before lunch and has been on the go this afternoon. 

Tonight we had dinner and Alexander shared with us.  We feel like he is part of our group from his visits in the states and getting to eat with us each night.  It is a blessing to get to hear from him for an extended time.  

The power keeps going out so I may post tonight without team thoughts yet… 

Special Needs Class 

The Ice Cream Shop