I hope you enjoyed the video of what our team was doing in Asia. (Crane made it. I don’t make videos…sorry.) Here is some more of what went on:
November 12~16 was our Debrief & we were able to go back to Kosomet Island. After a couple days on the Island, the Jan. squad arrived for their Final Debrief. That is why our debrief was bumped up early. But, it was nice to share some of our time with the Jan. squad & for the ways in which they poured into us since we still had awhile to go on our Race. The weather was beautiful with the days we had there & we were able to really enjoy the free time that was given to us to hang-out & be.
I really enjoyed the island more this time around than our first debrief on the island. I think due to the holiday, there were many more couples & families touring the island. This was a good change since the previous time I was there, the sex tourist industry was pretty heavy. Everywhere you looked it was heavy–on the beach, off the beach, around the restaurants & hotels, etc. For instance, one night a few of us girls went into the 711 to pick up something things. As we were waiting in line, there were some old men in front of us being incredibly loud & vulgar. I looked over at them & grandpa had pulled down his pants, instructing his bought date to slap it! His butt, that is. To add, there was a married couple with a young child behind me in the line! Instead of hitting those old men (which I really wanted to do), all I could do was yell, “JESUS, JESUS, JESUS!!!” I just couldn’t do anything else. It just makes me sick…but this time around it was a lot less heavy.
During our debrief, we had times of silence, time with our accountability partners, & sessions of speakers who came in to help us process what Asia has been like to us so far & how to prepare for Africa which was just around the corner (or so we thought).
During my free time, I would take walks with a friend, share a meal, & play on the beach! My favorite thing to do at the beach is play Paddle Ball! & I got to play everyday! Although they both broke on the first day, we still used them & yes, I brought them to London with me =) I think the record still stands for Zach & I. He says we made it to 98…but I think it was somewhere in the lower one hundreds.
Eventually, time came for us to leave to go back to work.
& so I am making my way down to the flock of children you see on the right, following our church contact (far left) who did all the transportation for us. His name is Thunder.
November 19 is the day you see. We drove out to a Childrens School specifically to put on a program for the kids. The children cross over the border everyday to come to school (for free). They have two sessions, this being the morning session.
We kept all of them in one large group & taught them songs & games.
Having all the kids in one big group was rather chaotic, but it still worked out ok.
Here is our interactive bible story time. The Walls of Jericho seems to be the most popular.
This is the school. It is all outside, with about four rooms & a kitchen area.
Our pastor all the way on the right.
Next comes the bible college.
We arrived on campus, receiving an orientation & meeting all the staff & students. I think there are about 5 teachers & 18 students (if I remember correctly) all in different years. We spent hours talking to them about our work & the way of life which we left back home. They sang songs for us (which were amazing) & asked us to sing as well. I learned from our visit just how much of an encouragement we were to them. To see Christians from the other side of the world, meet them & learn about them, really made their day. It made mine too!
Another stop brought us to this church. Here we helped them mix rocks, sand, & water to make cement. We would fill up our bucket & then carry it to …
…this part of the new building, were they are laying down the floor.
For some of the time, Kara & I talked with the pastor & asked him LOTS of questions. These are the kids that stuck around & found it fun to play with our sunglasses.
This is there new church which still has a little way to go. Some of the girls came back the next day to help direct Sunday Service. (I & Jennifer stayed back to lead teaching & worship @ the church we were serving in. Sundays always seem to be quite busy for us.)
The day is over & they are waiting on me. Bye!
