David, Hamburger, and Jungle Night
Ministry this month has been crazy insane, but a blast nonetheless. Our first week or so consisted of a special needs school, an old folks home, a HIV/AIDS clinic to do landscaping, and children's activities at church, as well as numerous times to pray for other believers.
However, I don't want to spend a lot of time on that week, but rather on the last few days of this week. You see, Monday, we got to go to an orphanage with about thirteen kids from age five to fourteen. Most of them have been at this orphanage for about six to eight years now and have grown up together as one big family. They all have amazing smiles and are full of joy.
They almost all have really hard names being of Indian descent, so we had them draw their name and one thing they love to do. Right off the bat, one of the kids wrote his name and tha the LOVES God and Jesus–how amazing is that!?!
Anyways, some of their names (ones I know how to spell) are David, Trisha, Thevananthini, Jacob, and Shuresh. Another boy's name (he definitely has the most GIGANTIC and contagious smile ever) is Shammugam, only when he says his name it sounds exactly like 'Hamburger'. It's pretty insane!
Funny faces (I somehow am always Wilson from Home Improvement…lol)
Tuesday, we only went to the house with the kids for a little bit because that night we journeyed out into the jungle to minister to migrant workers. I cannot show pictures of them though because I don't want to put them in danger.
Either way, we went to two different areas and shared a testimony (Lindsay) and sermon on faith, hope, love, and grace (Dex). I can tell you for certain that that night was the most amazing night ever. We moved mountains–I felt them shift and move (individual and collective mountains–more on this later).
slightly blurry, but I like it
It was a stormy night (thunder, lightning, heavy rain) and yet they listened intently and were appreciative of us coming out to see them. The presence of God was so thick all night long and we even broke out in song in the van on the way to the second stop. It was a joyful, wonderful experience and I want MORE!!!
Then, on Wednesday, with the kids again we were able to just go and hang out with them as if we were all one big family. They called Dex and I 'Uncle' and the ladies, 'Auntie.' We painted a tree with all of our handprints as the leaves–Emily's idea and she did an amazing job coordinating that and doing the base of the tree and under-lying leaves in green.
Tree with the hands of His children (including ours)
We left and the kids were saying, 'see you tomorrow, ' but I'm not sure we're going back. My heart lost a few more pieces there in that home with those kids. I was telling Annalisa today on our day off that if we had been at the home the whole month that I probably would not be able to say goodbye like I had done back in Guatemala when I had to leave the orphanage with the kids there (esp. Manuel and Kevin). It is crazy to think about.
Alright, well stay tuned for my next blog where I can finally reveal why Batman has been following me. God Bless! 😀
