The first week in Jordan for our team was pretty slow. Weather and unforeseen roadblocks delayed our plans for the first week. We spent the week as a team getting to know each other better and casting vision for the month. We also set up a prayer room where we have begun to collect numerous prayers for the month. But, from the moment I woke up this morning something was different. It was a good day. There was “something in the wind” as Preston would say. Fire seemed to fill my veins. The day didn’t let me down.
Our team headed out to the villages in the desert. We spent the day working with the school helping teach English. Well, sort of… I spent the whole day running around with the kids. Here’s how you make 50 new best friends:
- Jump a fence with the boys you just met and run around in the sand playing tag.
- Bring energy, be exciting, and find something, anything, random to play with.
- Put on a skit.
- Sing songs. LOUDLY.
- Improvise hot potato.
- Kick around a soccer ball.
- Do pushups and sit-ups (the girls can do more than the boys)
- Break up fights between your new friends
- Throw your new friends in the air
- Wrestle in the sand… for HOURS. (1 on 7 is NOT fair odds)
- Proceed to be dog piled by 15 kids
- Redirect ALL that rowdy energy into building a giant sand castle
- Pretend to live in said castle
- Play tag… again
- Repeat your name 10,000 times because it’s hard to say and impossible to remember
- Pretend you can talk to each other when you really have no idea what anyone is saying (yell a lot and use exaggerated hand gestures)
At some point, you will look up, look around, and realize that all your teammates have disappeared. Oops. Just go back to running around and they will know where to find you at the end of the day.
Give lots of hugs as you say good bye
Last month, I remember praying and asking God for a month with kids. I couldn’t have been more excited when I read that our ministry this month was working with schools for Syrian refugees and Jordanian kids! Let’s Go! Let me tell you, the friends I made today, though small, do not lack in spirit. They are full of energy and wit. The kids maintain joy even through the turmoil of leaving their homes and finding themselves in a new country. Now that I’m here in Jordan, my heart is full, and I am energized… even if my muscles ache, sand is literally in every corner of my body, and I’m dead tired. There’s nothing like a day with 50 lively village kids.
Be praying for our host here in Jordan. Also, be praying for the home visits we continue to go on and for the schools here.
IF you would like to help, my team is raising support to purchase care packages for the refugees. Click HERE if you would like to donate! Any amount helps. We are 50% funded and need to raise another $1,000 as soon as possible!
With Faith, Hope, and Love
Nathan
