Day 8 - Thursday - Serving at Taellor's House, Dedication and Church

What a blessing it has been for me to experience Nicaragua with my family and friends.  As the week has progressed and we have poured our energy into the construction projects, VBS, drama performances, Bible studies and more….those friends have now become FAMILY.  The gifts that each of them bring to the team vary in so many ways.  And seeing how God has made each of us so perfectly different is an amazing blessing.  I have found so much joy in the little things and my continual gratitude for all the men and women who serve us gringos behind the scenes.  Not having to cook for the last seven days J has made doing dishes for them at the end of the night a blessing to be able to give back.  I don’t know about you, but dishes usually are the last thing I get joy from.  Eddy, our bus driver, has been fantastic.  I’m not sure why anybody would want to drive here, especially a bus.  He has a continual smile, never seems frustrated, and is probably the only one who does NOT honk his horn at all the crazy drivers.

As Amber and I have prayed each night for the team and different employees at Project Hope, God has been faithful to answer the prayer in so many ways.

Today was the first day that our team did not split into two teams.  Having everyone together made the day seem like a blessing in itself. 

 

We started our day walking up to Taellor’s House which is a school in memory of Taellor, Travis and Tami’s daughter.  Women are able to drop of their children while they work or learn a trade in exchange for child care and donated hours to the project.  What a blessing!

 When you're too little to run fast during "Duck, Duck, Goose",

you get carried!

Silly songs are fun for everyone

 

We had the opportunity to sing songs, play games, make bracelets and share a Bible story.   Watching my own kiddos interact with these children touched my heart (and my eyes). You can read more about Taellor's House on the Project H.O.P.E. website at http://www.pjhope.org/home

 Later we loaded up on the bus and were off to our next adventure. 

We dedicated Pastor Patricia’s home, left household gifts and headed to VBS, which is always an adventure with all the children.  They love to run….so “Q” spent a lot of time running to the bus and back with a pack of kiddos following him.  McKinlee fit right in, loving on all the children and making a connection with all the girls her age.   The girls and older ladies loved to touch her long blonde hair and requested for her to wear it down, they poured out love to her by giving her jewelry. 

 

We had prepared 100 crafts for VBS but even that wasn’t enough,

so we had to hurriedly cut about 20 more pieces of yarn.

 

Everyone was invited back for the church service to hear the World of God by both Pastor Patricia and Mr. Goede. We again performed our Chains drama that brings all eyes and mouths wide open.   

What I have noticed here in Nicaragua is the vast differences between the three services we have been a part of.  God is so good for us to be able to witness the energy that the Nica people pour into worship.  We may feel uncomfortable with different ways of worship; however we are serving the same God.  My continual prayer will be for the word of God to be accurately taught to all nations, churches, pastors, and congregations.  May we learn to find joy in our differences and seek to love Him more?

-Kristi