Let me recap yesterday’s events for church.
We were picked up an hour and a half after we were supposed to be. No biggie, just waited outside for a while.
After a 40 minute ride, we finally arrived at the church. We sang songs, my teammate Alyssa shared a testimony and my team leader Malia preached.
Afterward we were told tea and breakfast would be on its way soon. It was around 12:30 at this point. Soon after, the tea and slices of bread arrived. It was some pretty good tea! But we were kind of ready to head out. Paige had to be back for a meeting at 2 and it was already almost 1. The pastor was resting so his wife went up to ask him. He said we wouldn’t be home before 2:30.
Yeah, we were pretty bummed ??
But we ended up chatting with the pastors wife and hanging out until it was time to leave. Soon, we were ready to head out. But instead of heading home like we thought, they took us to a piece of land where they are starting to build an orphanage. We prayed over the land and all that God has in store for the orphanage and then got back in the car.
Ok, now we’re going home! (It’s almost 2pm, did I mention we left the house at 9:30am?)
Sike.
Down the road to the shelter that they built for families that were effected by the earthquake a few years ago. We got out, walked around, met some kids, and even prayed for a woman with cancer that lives in the shelter.
It’s 3PM now.
We pile in the car and head up the hill, we see some people riding mopeds and bikes and doing tricks in a basket ball court. So we stop to watch for a few minutes.
(Oh I forgot to mention, while we were at the shelter, pastor grabbed a chicken, tied up its legs and he is now sitting on the floor of the front seat with the pastors wife. Freaking out wherever we get in and out. Yep, a live chicken!)
Eventually we get back in the car and head up the small mountain only to see a huge pile of dirt in the road which we then attempt to drive straight through.
No such luck.
We’re stuck.
The car won’t move an inch.
So we all get out in hopes of being able to push our way out.
Nope.
There’s a huge rock under one of the tires, and it looks as though the tire has popped. Just our luck. At this point all we can do is laugh and crack jokes while attempting to free the tire and get back on the road. Eventually we get it! And the tire isn’t popped.
Not even 5 minutes later we come up to two big trucks each going opposite directions on the very narrow road. They can’t seem to squeeze past one another so we back up a bit to move out of the way for them some more. Just then, I hear a scraping sound underneath the car. Uh oh.
Once the trucks move past one another, we try to start moving but are stuck again. Out of the car once more to see how we can help.
Another rock, this time stuck underneath the car. With help from some locals we get the rock out and start on our way again.
And I have to pee so bad!
We head down the road less than half a mile when the car stops and the pastor says “see that house, a man from our church lives there and we are all going to go in and pray for him.”
Well, ok then. Here we go!
We head up to the small house made out of tin and wood. He tells us to sit down. There’s a large bed(maybe a full size bed?), a small open space, a TV and then to the left a small kitchen. Further back is another bedroom area…
?
After a few minutes we learn that the mans granddaughter has a hole in her heart that she needs surgery to fix. She’s 3 years old but the size of a 1 year old and very very skinny. Her body is too weak and too small to have the surgery to fix the hole.
The mans wife brings out some homemade popcorn for us to snack on. We eat it up and help her make more!
?
Soon after they bring us some tea which was amazing!
Talk about hospitality. These people don’t even know us. Meanwhile, the baby’s mom is in the kitchen with her dad making something.
By this time we’ve been there for over an hour.
Then, we are served some noodles. Kind of like spicy ramen. But so so yummy!
My heart is full, the day has been fun, silly, restful and such a blast! My cup is overflowing. “Fill up my cup and let it overflow!” We had bad attitudes a few times but eventually just gave our day up totally to the Lord. We had no idea what He had in store for us that day. But I’m so thankful for the day. 🙂
After we finished eating we sang a few songs, pastor shared the gospel for the mans wife who is not a believer and then we prayed for the little girl and her heart.
It was time to leave now, we said some sweet goodbye’s and even took pictures with the family.
We finally headed home and arrived back at the house at 6:30pm. When we got home I was in such a good mood. Practically bouncing off the walls! Not only that but a few people from my squad decided to make a dinner for the entire squad so we could all eat together and just fellowship(let me tell you, 55 people is a lot of people to cook for!) We haven’t all had a meal together until last night so it was special. We had fajitas, chips and at the end some of my squad mates brought out a cake they had bought for all the people who have birthdays in Feb/March. So we sang happy birthday and shared some cake.
Yesterday was great! I even joined in on a dance party before dinner.
Jesus, thank you for all the small things! For doing the unexpected and blowing our minds with the plans you have for us.
