14 of the 15 of us (one had to take the picture)
Today was a great day! We had 28 kids at our VBS. It wasn't chaotic, it was well organized and ran relatively smoothly despite US arriving late. Tomorrow we need to start earlier.
Today's theme was Dig into God's Promises. God makes us promises and he always keeps them. This is both a good and a bad thing for us? How could God keeping his promises be a bad thing for us? Well, he tells us that one day "every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is LORD". Simple fact of the matter is, weather you believe in Jesus as your savior, see him as a good teacher, or a crazy man you will one day be required by God to acknowledge the Sovereignty of Jesus.
God promises to take care of us (Philippians 4:19)
God promises to always be with us (Hebrews 13:5)
God promises us comfort and support (Isaiah 40:30-31)
God promises to judge us (Matthew 25:31-45)
But the most important thing to remember is that God keeps his promises. We can trust his word, we can trust what is written in the Bible because what God says will happen or will not happen (Genesis 9:11), will or will not happen, respectively.
It is a great God whom can be so highly trusted. He is not fallible like we his creation. He doesn't get bogged down with chores, and deadlines, or distracted by lesser things. He is Holy and Above All and worthy of our trust and praise.
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While the women worked with the kids on VBS, the men were working on the main building project of this trip. They are working on building a bathroom onto a storage shed.... which isn't as odd as it sounds when the secondary project is gutting the storage shed in order to turn it into computer/study room for the local kids to come and do their homework in a quiet, safe environment. They also plan to section off a small section for kids to watch tv and play games, and in general given themselves something to do after school.
This is the soon-to-be study room
This is the restroom building project
The work is rewarding and fun. I find myself exhausted when i sit down. If i keep moving, keep working i'm fine, once i settle down though, i'm ready to go to sleep. It is 7:38 and i'm thinking it's just about bedtime.
But that aside the stories you hear from the kids who know some of those who are returning for their second and third year at this place is just heart breaking.
One sweet little girl, Jayla (pictured above) lives with her older sister and her grandparents (the pastor and his wife of the church). Last year, between when the group was here and when we returned, her mother died of Leukemia. One of their other childen, ran away from home and the last news heard of her was that she was homeless and pregnant. I can't imagine what it must be like to essentially lose two children in one year, and to know the struggles the one that is living but missing is going through.
Please pray for thier family, and that God strengthens them in this time and for the little girls who lost their mother to find comfort in God's loving arms.
Angela
Carl
Angela and Carl, the fearless leaders, have a heart for their community that you can feel before they even begin to speak. They want so much to get this church functioning the way they wish it would so that they and the members of their church could better impact their community, and maybe one day send out missionary groups of their own to other churches struggling like theirs.
Carl is the Assistant Pastor at Living Stones, and it is his desire to see the youth group grow and the mens ministry to grow and flourish. He was telling us, that the women of the community are faithful to come, but the men seem to come once and then don't come back for a while. They'll come for some big event at the church but don't wish to come if there isn't anything there for them to do. He wants to see that change. He wants them to come because they want to gather for fellowship and worship, because they want to learn about the word of God, not because there is a big project.
Heavenly Father;
Please be with the people of Living Stones church. Be with Angela and Carl and give them strength and encouragement that all their work is not for nothing, and that it is through them that you're work and glory will shine in their community.
Please be with each of the children who come to VBS. We do not know the extent of their home lives or where they come from each day. Please give us the patience to interact with them in a way that will show your love to them. Many of these children just need to know that someone thinks they're important, that someone cares.
LORD, be with our team, and help us to complete our jobs each day with your joy and love overflowing from our lives. Make in us a light to this community, and help those who may come to know you this week get tied into the church and begin to grow in you.
AMEN
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