Hola! Amigos y amigas. We were ahead of the soldiers through the airport as they were deployed to protect their borders but enough of our "escape" on the wings of the Lord! The mission was an unqualified success. SOME of the highlights: We gave out 250 Bibles, and the crowds of kids and families were still in line for more. It broke our hearts to turn them away, but the demand exceeded our supply. We began building flush toilets and a side bathroom off the kindergarten to replace the pit toilets in the back of the schoolyard. We had the new paint delivered to the clinic so that the kids could paint. It looks great! We taught several hundred 1st through 7th grade students about hand washing, germs and how to avoid spreading colds, swine flu, etc. We brought microscopes to the 7-9th graders and showed them how to use them, and left all the supplies, laminated posters and equipment for the teachers, and much more. They were thrilled! The village spokesmen surrounded us before we left to tearfully thank us for "springboarding" their health educational program years into the future from what they could have done alone.
For me, it's all about the kids. They are the future of the country, even the world, and they have so little opportunity to get an education and be contributing members of society, not helping in some way is to me just unthinkable. I still have tears in my eyes when I remember their hopeful faces, the sweet eyes. They followed us like puppies and appeared like magic every time we came out of a building. We taught them to play Uno and soccer, and hugged them. The mothers and fathers were every bit as thankful and affectonate. The "Village Health Committee" came to wish us goodbye and thank us, and we all were overwhelmed by love and gratitude. Even the "macho" men of the village hugged me back. I daresay we took back full hearts to take the place of the hundreds of pounds of supplies and Bibles we brought. It was our gain. Again, my thanks to you all who prayed for our safety and supported us. They told me it would be a life-changing experience. I was skeptical, but they were right. Seeing God's plan in action, and experiencing true worship with folks who had church or prayer meetings EVERY evening, was an extraordinarily humbling experience. They said they were privileged to worship. My heart is full.....Vayo con dios! Br. Sam.
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Correction - we did not teach them soccer - they can beat us blind folded and in bare feet or flip flops! They are the experts and can teach us a few moves - it's the only game in town. Great recap Sam! You said it all. Thanks. - A.
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