Day 1 thoughts...

Just a quick update for you. Everyone arrived just fine (10 of us had an interesting run to a connecting flight that we were late for. fortunately Courtney who was ahead of the rest of us refused to get on the plane without us. it turns out creating a commotion works well for delaying a flight).

Half the team spent half a day with the kids at the orphanage while the others were still in transit (yesterday). They assisted in several English classes, got to know the kids and even found time for a game of dodgeball.

We began today by sharing in devotional time with the older boys and girls and afterward we did a service project in the community of Nueva Vida with 20 of the kids from the orphanage. Together we met Pastor Berman who showed us his church. We were really blessed to experience his church today. We saw his church in action today making bread, cutting lumber, making jewelry, teaching children and then feeding children. We commented to him that his church looks different than most, and he responded by sharing that when several years ago they began to consider how to be a blessing to the community around them and not just focus on those inside their walls (who had considerable needs by the way) that their actions, faith and mission took on a different approach. He summed it up by saying that they aim to Show people the love of Jesus instead of just telling them about it.

With the kids from the orphanage we served food at 3 different feeding centers at 3 different churches in the community. This was really interesting. All 3 churches talked about the Spirit that is creating unity in the community, that their churches are looking beyond denomination and style toward impact. So cool to hear that!

Before we left this community we shared with Pastor Berman and some of his youth volunteers what we saw and experienced in and through them today. The team told them that they saw his vision in action, that the love of Jesus was made visible in them and their ministry! The team told them that they saw great human and Spiritual leadership building something special. As we prayed for them and their ministry it felt right! It just felt right.

There is some pretty broken stuff in all of us. Some of it is easy to see, some not so much. But God is certainly on the move.

Will update again soon. For now it is off to painting, assembling some closets, English classes, dinner and then worship with the kids worship team tonight! We can't wait to tell God that He is awesome.