Last Day

It is hard to believe but Thursday is it for the team. We leave really early Friday so we squeezed every drop out of this day. We finished our portion of the painting of the orphanage, got shower curtains up in the girls bathroom, hung some doors in the bathroom stalls, all while having fun with children by our side.

A couple of our team members spent time in the school where they were grateful to see that the kids are being well led, but also found the school lacking some basic resources. A great connection was made here between the science teacher and Gillian (our science teacher). They have decided to stay in touch and to encourage one another in the work for growing children!

We had a farewell party late in the afternoon where a crazy clown led us all in some fun games as we ate popcorn, cotton candy and watched the little kids (and stephen, caroline and matt) bounce around in a moonbounce that was rented. It was a great way to end our time with the little children in particular.

In the evening we took staff and most of the older kids to the boys soccer game. While they didn´t win they did have about 80 more fans than their opponent! Having one last time to encourage and cheer for them was great. We hadn´t planned on being at any of these games and this proved to be a special treat for us and a great encouragement to them.

After the game we had our final porch time where we shared what we were feeling, what our experience has been like and we looked to the parable of the Good Samaritan for guidance on what to do with it. In this parable we find a man who crosses cultural boundaries, disrupts his plans, and pays money all to care for someone he saw that was in need. He also promised to return. We talked about the ways that we might return. Maybe that means to this place physically, but we talked about how to honor the relationships that were born while we were here. We were challenged to not allow this to be a trip or retreat that we return from to consider just the ways that we have been impacted but to consider how to honor these kids that we love.

We are not sure where all of this will lead but we are certain that He will be there with us as He has been this week.

Final thoughts for you. We have experienced a culture where everywhere we went and everyone we met was open and accepting. It has been moving to see the care and community that exists here. As we talked this out, we believe that there is something that rests in this community and it is something that is beautiful. We believe that in this place with great needs, there is also great need for one another. Being welcomed into that, and being able to meet many of the needs, has led us to a deeper understanding of what community can look like.

We have been forced to consider all of the ways that our culture tells us that we don´t need each other. We realize we have neighbors we don´t know that live right next door. The poor are rich in community! Rich in their relationships with each other and with God.

We are glad to be a part of a community at Spring Branch that by trips like this, and through A2 in particular, is committed to this same ethic.

Last thought and most important one! The kids at Casa Bernabe are growing! They are growing spiritually, they are growing in their knowledge of the Lord. They are growing physically. They are growing in their education and in their desire and hope for a brighter future. We are humbled to have been able to participate in our small way toward this growth.