Sharing more than toys

When we ask "Why Did God put us in this place at this moment" we never know  what answer we might get.

With a little down time and a late night last night Susan and Jonathan went into the dorm room for a rest. While in there a woman came in looking for a little boy. After several minutes of conversation it is discovered that what she is really looking for is clothes for a little boy.

The woman is a friend of a young mother who is close to the edge and contemplating ending her life. Becoming pregnant at 16 the young mother of a now 5 year old boy is destitute, with no way to feed or clothe her child. Seeing no way to accomplish these basic task she is without hope. Her friend, in search for help, came to the resource center to see if anything can be done. Here they encountered Pacita, Susan and Jonathan and one of God's little miracles happened.

The boy has no clothes? Susan starts to think that perhaps a few of Jonathan's can be spared, after all, he too is 5 years old. As Susan selects clothing Jonathan looks on with some confusion and perhaps a little dismay, and so Susan explains. "When we get home we can buy more clothes. Jonathan, this young boy has none."  Jonathan's response? He reached in his suitcase and pulled out a few more items.

It's timing. God put us in this woman's path. May she find the hope she needs.

Meanwhile, Arlene is in the kitchen wrapping things up. Another woman comes in and is hovering about listening and engaging in some small conversations. It is revealed that she is hungry. Arelene offers some food, "Help yourself". The woman, perhaps feeling unsure what is appropriate to take, remarks ":it tastes so much better when someone makes it for you." With a benevolant heart Arlene prepares a sandwich while the woman looks on, often repeating how much better a meal is when someone else prepares it. Ever gracious Arlene  recognizes a soul in need of compassion, "Sometimes we all need a little taking care of."

The small things we do in our lives is how true Faith is revealed. How easy it would be to dismiss a woman in need of children's clothes as "not our problem, that is not why we are here." Or, "this is our food." Instead, we can look into our hearts and wonder what we can do to help in some small way. A few clothes. A few morsels of food. The power of these gestures can change the course of a day. The course of that day can change the week.....for a moment in time we know that the Faith in our hearts can heal.

Sunday's Worship

We visited Mount Sinai Baptist Church on Sunday for worship. We were welcomed with open arms and joyously raised voices. The congregation sings with swinging arms and closed eyes, heads tilted back in exulatation. The children remember the VBS members, see Jonathan and Nicole and coming rushing over to sit with us.  My heart is warmed as the entire congregation moves up and out of the pews to the aisle as they greet friends, loved ones, and fellow Christians with hugs instead of handshakes. We are embraced with a warmth that comes not from the sun but from the open hearts of our brothers and sisters.

A birthday, a concrete pad, and seeking God's plan

The first day in Exuma finds us ready and eager to get started. While we awaited a few of the team members to get back from the lumber yard we had the chance to meet two of the youth that benefit from the Exuma Foundation's education program and for whom we are building the gazebo. Sean and Terry greeted us during breakfast with pleasant smiles and a turqoise balloon. The children don't say much God sees it more fitting to share their hearts another way. Yesterday (Thursday) was Sean's birthday and, as we applaud the gift of him, he smiles and claps along with us.

How simple it is to fill our hearts with joy...



the concrete pad of the gazebo/outdoor classroom

 When the lumber trip was completed, the construction crew hits the ground (quite literally!).... much or the early tasks are cutting down the lumber and marking templates to create the frame work that will form the gazebo. The support beams are installed and the frame is formed. One thing we've learned is that we'll be making a lot of trips to the hardware store - not for lack of planning, the price of material is extraordinary and one doesn't buy something unless it is absolutely needed. A small change in the plans can cost much more than time. We know there has been some field modifications to the original plan so we'll have to proceed with caution so as to not waste material and cause undue expense.
The team works until is almost dark, knowing that if the frame can be erected then the bulk of the work can be accomplished tomorrow, and maybe we'll get this project done ahead of schedule to allow for the opportunity to do more.

We can be God's helping hands in so many ways here. There seems to be an endless list of small tasks to accomplish, small ways that help to make such a big difference in a life and touch a heart. As we move through the day and end with Devotion, Pastor Dave has reminded us to listen and seek God's will for us. Why here? Why now? What is Your will?

scrubbing bubbles and roaring dinosaurs...

Sometimes even  unexpected tasks can make a big difference...

With no school to visit today half of the crew went out on one of those tasks that come up and  then remain unaccomplished until God sends some helpers it's way. The task given today was to clean a long abandoned senior center that is being renovated for it's next life as an emergency shelter for displaced individuals. Long vacant, the facility was inhabited by large four legged creatures of the scavenger type who left some of their own style of contributions behind. So! The cleaning crew scrubbed and sanitized  four apartments that will be available in the future as emergency housing. To prevent the return of the unwanted house guests the apartments will be sealed until the time comes for their important use as shelter when most needed.

Along with the scrubbing and cleaning comes another kind of relief ..... At Friday's VBS, Jonathan met a boy, TJ, and of course they made fast friends. God does some of his best work through the joyful hearts of children. After one day the boys were connected and between the scrubbing and scraping, they found time to play (complete with dinosaurs and outstanding roars!). As an expression of soldarity, TJ wanted to give one of the dinoasurs to Jonathan. The two dinosaurs are all TJ has, but more important than the posession of a toy is the friendship between the children that filled their hearts.

I thank the Lord for giving us this day to help where needed and connected with the people around us. I know that by helping others and helping in the Lord's work we will find in ourselves some thing we did not know existed.

We're Here! December 3, 2010

We're here!  

We got in late yesterday afternoon and had an early supper; then went to hear a Christmas carol sing-a-long in town before unpacking and settling in.  We were all exhausted after a long day of travel so everyone was tucked in by 10 pm!  The VBS team left at 8:15 this morning and the construction team got started on the gazebo.  We've faced a few challenges (no hot water in the kirchen, no mirrors anywhere for the women--imagine 9 women getting ready without a single mirror!) but everyone is taking everything in stride.  Maybe Georgene's devotion last night on Martha and Mary helped...  Dave and I are confident that God is going to do great things within this team as well as through it!