Tuesday, March 13th

Additional Joy from the first 3 days:

1. Record - Lexie – 40 hours between showers
2. Luke – encounter with a fire hydrant
3. Kin’s ripped pants – and his new outfit

4. Hannah S – are red snapper’s fishy
5. Holly – is this the same place as last year
6. Michael R– just what cut of meat is that
7. Emily – talking in her sleep – thank you for my bow.
8. Kin – talking in his sleep
9. Missing teeth
10. Jonathan – question – When a Jordan baby is born – does the Energizer bunny come bite it?
11. Lexie – What is red meat???

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

3 nights – 11 hours of sleep - DCS in Puerto Rico – 2012. Count it All Joy! I know you are praying – we are flying on the wings of prayer! Up – and out the door by 9:30 – back to the orphanage – the rain clouds have parted and it is beautiful! Courtney begins the bus ride with a game. She says, pretend I am an atheist. Now convince me of what I should believe. With every answer the
kids give she asks more questions. What is Hell? What is sin? Who is God? What is Heaven? Why, why, why? What are the 10 Commandments? Who is Jesus? The questions go on and on. All of our Sunday School answers are rubbish to people who really do not understand. She challenged them to think through how they will explain the gospel to others. We are using Radical, Forgotten God, and Not a Fan as reference books this week in our devotions – I challenged the students to consider whether they were a fan of Jesus’ – one with a Jesus sticker on their car – or whether they were a follower – what is the difference - as they worked today – I challenged them to define their relationship in their own minds – more to come tonight.

We arrived at the orphanage and the temperature was already unbelievable. The tasks today – to finish painting, to concrete some benches, clean out a storage area, and to begin to prepare the
area for the garden. This area was not that large, however, there were layers of asphalt and concrete. The pick ax and crowbars came out – the chiseling, pounding, sweating, digging, intense work began. It was grueling. In addition, we wanted to take the home director to Walmart to purchase things for the garden and for the home. Karen and I went with the director on a “10 minute ride.” We got in the car – she made a cross gesture across her chest – put one hand on the top of the wheel and the other on the horn – and off we raced on a ride I doubt Karen and I are soon to forget – around the curves literally through the traffic – into oncoming cars – turn left on red – unbelievable – 25 minutes later – we arrived – a little out of breath and we certainly did not catch it in a Walmart in Puerto Rico – WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! Count it All Joy!

Anyway, it was special in the sense that several of you had given money – we just let her shop. She bought an iron, fan, socks, diapers, towels, toilet seat, trash can, etc. Very humble purchases and with each her face glowed. The most humbling purchase was several plastic boxes, like small shoe box size, that she said they used to put “all of the children’s possessions in when they arrive.” I told the students how overwhelmed I was. We struggled to pack for 6 days in a bag less than 50 lbs and all of their possessions were able to fit in this small, simple box. We bought plants, landscape rocks, and flowers. She was overjoyed! Count it all Joy! We were in a small car – there was not an inch left and Karen and I both had plants in our laps. She slung us around every curve coming home – horn blowing – swerving – when we pulled back into the gate at the orphanage – Karen and I both were COUNTING IT ALL JOY!!!

When we returned, we found the students really working hard. The work continued throughout the day – some students began crafts while others continued with the labor. The children painted visors yesterday – today they made crosses with popsicle sticks. Michael R and Chad led them in a devotion they had written. It was awesome. They used a ruler, a watch, and a measuring cup. They talked to them about how we use practical tools to measure things. They talked to them about the impossibility to measure God’s love. I was so proud of the energy and excitement they had as they quoted Scripture and shared God’s love to these children!!! Count it All Joy!

Dinner tonight was at a local restaurant – we had very traditional Mexican food and it was
great! The students had really not eaten much lunch so they were hungry! Time for team devotion.

Tonight, Courtney shared her testimony. It is so great for these students to hear about the struggles and joys of fellow believers. It is even greater for them to hear about the presence of God – faith, and growth through these struggles. She said that Psalm 37:4 had been very impactful to her during the years of up and down. It says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” She originally thought that if she was good, He would grant her personal desires. Yet over the years, she realized that as long as she was seeking Him, striving to be in the center of His will for her life, that he is molding her and shaping her heart to desire the things He has planned for her life. She went on to say that she was ok with that because she had joy when she was in communion with Him and felt His presence, His joy, His strength. She does not know what He has next, but she has learned His path is
better than any desire she could conceive. Count it all Joy!!

We looked back tonight at the fan vs. follower concept. Everyone knows what an obnoxious Carolina fan – I told them all about the NCAA championship while I was a student. I was an extreme fan – blue paint head to toe and all. I am willing to cheer my heart out for them. However, I would not die for them – I would not sacrifice my life for them, I would not deny myself for them, I would not trade it all for them. The definition of a fan is “an enthusiastic admirer.” And so – we took the time to reflect on defining our relationship with Christ. Are we “Yea Jesus” kind of people, his biggest fans, or are we willing to do what it takes to follow.

After a time of discussion – we opened the floor for their moments today when they felt the presence of God. Many shared moments with the children. The most profound thought was from the team that had struggled all day with the dirt. Art compared it to the parable of the dirt and seed. He explained that our heart are so full of sin – and in order for the word to be able to take root – we have to rid ourselves of the “rocks” or sin destroying our heart. It is work! But just like they could look at the huge pile of debris removed and see more and more of the better soil – as we remove sin, the soil of our hearts can receive the Word of God and it can take root and be transforming! Count it all Joy!!! They are really dreading leaving these children tomorrow. The struggles they have faced are so difficult – these are young children. Knowing they have been so abused breaks my heart. Some things are more difficult than others to count as joy.

We went outside and played minute to win it. Jonathan, Luke, Hannah, and Holly had to put their hands inside a pair of pantyhose. The challenge was toretrieve the tennis balls at the foot of the hose only using the hand in each leg – no help from the other. It was hysterical. Then the duct tape challenge. The students divided into 2 teams. Lexie and Ben were wrapped in duct tape and were to see which team could get the most balloons stuck to them. Really funny! The final challenge was sorting m&ms. Sounds easy? The catch was to pick them up with a straw – no hands. Ben won hands down! Lots of laughter, lots of fun – It was a great day. Count it all Joy!!!

Fun moments from the day:
1. The paint team’s surprise when I went to check on progress – let’s just say Hannah F, Lexie, Reagan, Michael R, Luke and Emily
2. Hannah F – running into a gate
3. Michael R – split pants
4. Lexie and Reagan – creating beauty tips for mission trips