I sit now, writing, high up in one of the many large mango trees on Kedesh Orphanage’s property. I want to let you know how my first ministry day went. But first I want to tell you about the amazing home for 24 young men, the youngest of them being age nine.
Kedesh is run by an American man named John, who is a great example to anyone who may want to run an orphanage in the future. John is a carpenter and construction man by trade. There are also two foreign guests from Europe here at Kedesh that help in any way they can. Heather has been here for 6 years and Chris has been here for 8 months. John and Chris teach the guys here at Kedesh, very useful skills that will be used the rest of their lives. Every building on the property was built John and the boys, as he simultaneously teaches them the skills needed to complete said projects. Each boy also has his own garden to tend. The boys switch off monthly on a chore list that ranges from cleaning certain areas of the property to herding the cattle and goats a few times daily. Some cook a certain daily meal for the month, as others spend time working on building projects. About half the guys go to school in the morning, while the other half works and then they switch in the afternoon. This all has to do with what grade they are in, whether school is in the morning or afternoon. Friday night is Bible study night and most other nights of the week involve a movie and popcorn for the kids to enjoy via projector and white sheet. The kid that cooks the popcorn chooses the movie for the night. The popcorn is just the way I like it, full of butter and salt! I feel like I’m at a theater!
My first day of “ministry” began with waking up at 5:30 in the morning to some worship music being played loud enough for everyone on the property to hear while they prepared themselves for the day. I made my way to the outside tables for some breakfast and devotion led by John at 6 a.m. After breakfast I began helping three guys, Sten, Joao and Santino, plaster some cinderblock walls which is to become a septic tank for the building in progress. The guys told me they enjoy all the building projects they do. We talked about school their future, and a little about my life in the U.S. After our little project was done I began to wonder around and just join in on anything someone was doing. I played some volleyball with a few of the kids. I watched as the other World Racers made lunch for the day and bread that was being made for the following day.
I spoke with Jonah and Rockman when they arrived home from school. I asked what they had in mind for their future. Jonah has dreams of becoming a lawyer and Rockman wants to become a surgeon. I love that these kids dream big knowing the power of our God. Many young people I’ve met over the last 8 months grow up in a place where they just try and make it out of the day alive and healthy. They don’t have dreams, because dreams cost too much and the society around them tells them they will never make it; that they will be insignificant, poor, and struggle their whole lives. It’s so important that we as individuals speak life into youth. When kids are told their whole lives they are not wanted, they are a problem, or they wont succeed, they can begin to believe those lies to the point of giving up on any dream they may have had, and just start embrace those lies they have been told. I love that these young men have a hope for a great future, and a trust in the Lord to do big things with their lives. I personally think it is because of the time someone has spent pouring hope, love, and encouragement into them.
By the time we finished talking, it was time for lunch and I enjoyed some good ole’ rice and beans. After lunch the boys and I played futbol for a couple of hours. After the futbol game is was time to cool off, so eight of the younger boys and I went for a swim in their pond. We jumped from a tree leaning quite much over the pond, doing flips and other things that boys like to do without caution to their safety. We finished our pond time with an old fashion game of tag. As we made our way back to the houses, there was a game of volleyball about get underway, so I decided I’d join in. What started out as 2 vs 3 quickly became a full on 6 vs 6 with John, Heather, and Chris all joining in with us Racers and the kids. We played until the sun went down.
Dinner happened around 7 o’clock. We had rice and beans with some green vegetable that Manuelino and Chelsea picked just an hour or two prior. Very shortly after dinner was a showing of Men in Black with that yummy popcorn I told you about. Although I enjoy that movie, I found myself completely worn out by the 5:30 wake up and all the fun of the day, so I made my way into my actual ROOM and a real life BED! After just the first day here at Kedesh I fell in love with this beautiful place and these kids. I am excited to see what God has in store for me, my team, and the boys here at Kedesh. It saddens me to already acknowledge, this month will fly by way too fast for me.
IM STILL IN NEED OF $3,600 TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE FIELD AND POUR INTO MORE OF GODS CHILDREN! IF YOU WOULD LIKE HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN, SIMPLY CLICK “SUPPORT ME” AT THE TOP OF MY BLOG PAGE OR UNDER MY PROFILE PICTURE! THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG, AND/OR SUPPORTING ME AND GOD BLESS!
