I think I dreamed about meat last night.
A few days ago Lynette emailed Scott, Jake, and I to invite out for dinner. Little did we know that we would end up at an all-you-can-eat carnivore-fest. Walk up to a window with a vast array of meats lined up, pick your favorites, and bring them back to your table to sample. Pork loin, ribs, chicken breast, sausage, and best of all, a nice big slab of beef.
Siga la Vaca, or Follow the Cow, that was the name of the restaurant. And we did. For four hours. Enjoying eachother’s company. Friends and accountability partners; it was nice to reconnect, to dive into eachother’s lives, to just plain relax.
And as we gorged ourselves on the meat fiesta, we were able to share about the contacts we’ve made here. God is doing some cool stuff in Buenos Aires. Little did our team know that when we met a guy on the street who handed us a flier about a hospital ministry, that it would become a potential contact for the future of the World Race.
This afternoon, team Nessa went to the Children’s Hospital in downtown Buenos Aires. We met up with Johnny and Dan from a group called The Family. It’s a Christian organization that has bases in all different countries around the world. And we just happened upon this when we were trying to find a restaurant a few days ago.
So, we met Johnny and Dan in front of the hospital, and they walked us up to the 4th floor. Then they proceeded to tell us the plans for the afternoon. They would start with a few songs… one was a song I used to sing in Sunday school as a kid (this time in Spanish). “I’m in-right, out-right, up-right, down-right, happy all the time…” (Admit it, some of you know this one, especially mom.) After song time, we would retell the story of Peter and the Wolf, acting it out. Then more music, and then finally giving out books and praying with the kids.
So as we stood outside the door to the ward, Johnny opened a bag and started pulling out costumes. Yes, we were becoming clowns. We all ended up wearing crazy colored skirts, pirate shirts (i.e. Seinfeld), and overalls. Scott looked wonderful in his purple and yellow ensemble. As the story of Peter and the Wolf was retold, Scott and I played great sheep. Runing around the room, baaah-ing. The kids smiles were worth the humiliation.
After about an hour, we were able to pray with the kids, to talk to them a little more, to share our lives with them. And then it was over. We were swealtering, and about to pass out, but 7 kids lives were touched. Kids who may or may not have a future, many dealing with cancer. And God provided a way for them to smile today. Those kids know that Jesus loves them today.
Our hope is that someday more World Racers will get a chance to make fools out of themselves, and in the process, touch the lives of children who are dealing with some pretty hefty stuff. Laughter truly is the best medicine.
