Friday Finale

Good evening all. Sorry for the late night post but we have had a late night impromptu worship session when a guitar appeared. Here is how today went: 

This morning we went back to Batey 106 for the final time. We split again into a construction team and a children team. The children’s team told the story of Jesus walking on water and had the kids color pictures and think about how to trust God in all things. The construction team continued helping on the foundation of the duplex that we were building. At the end of the work time we paused for a minute to take a picture with our team and the local construction team that has been helping us. After lunch we said our goodbyes and loaded the bus to return to La Romana. Waves and smiles were plentiful and there were even some tears that flowed as we left a place that we had learned to love. 

After a quick change we went to the beach for a short time of relaxing, which at the end of that time was met with a rain shower. After another wonderful dinner we met together as a team to debrief the week. It was a special time of sharing. I will share the God sightings from today but the take aways from the week are complex to catch in words. I encourage you to talk to any and/or all of the trip participants to hear what this trip has meant to them. 

So, here are today’s God sightings:

Tim saw God at work in a man who appeared from the sugar cane fields as we finished our work handing out mangoes that he had just harvested while thanking us.

Shelby saw God at work as the children gave her coloring pages that they had done and giving her hugs.

Sami saw God at work as she helped to find the right dress for her closest friend from the batey and in a boy who saw our bus coming this morning and ran to tell his friends.

Mary Helen saw God at work in the friend that she gave her hat to who seemed to be extremely happy to have something to remember her by.

Meara saw God at work in the kindness from the kids in giving the group the bracelets that they were making and offering to paint their nails and during a special time with her best bud Christian before leaving. She reminded him that he was special and strong and could do anything.

Georgia saw God at work as a little boy appeared to help her wash the concrete off of her hands.

Caleb saw God at work as a little girl who had fallen and skinned her knee calmed down and stopped crying when he picked her up to console her.

Gretchen saw God at work today as the telling of the Bible story went well.

Jenn saw God at work as our rapport with the local workers was strengthened, as her best friend (Joe) came running up today in a UK shirt not knowing how special that is to her as a UK fan, and in a conversation with an older boy who she was able to tell that our group was there because of church.

Annalise saw God at work through Heidi who made her a bracelet and in the children who told her that she was beautiful.

Stephanie saw God at work as she saw how far the work for the week had come and the progress of the batey. (We were told that 10 years ago this batey that we worked in was the worst and was filled with families who had no place to live)

We look forward to sharing more stories with you and returning home. Pray for us as we travel and we hope to be on the ground in Louisville around 7:30 tomorrow evening. Thank you for following our journey. We invite you to come to this wonderful place to be part of the work that God is doing here.