Today was all about watching Romans 12:4-13 come alive. Whatever the gifts and knowledge that God gave to each of our team members, they were used today. While Tim, Greg and Allen some painted the outside wall and the playground and helped Bethany and Dallas assemble the beehives, Danny and Bill repaired the soffits and gutters, and Robert and Luke did lawn maintenance, took out the trash and helped with the children. Outside, women scurried in all directions, changing diapers, playing games and music and feeding children. It was an impressive sight to see the body of Christ at work.
Here are some WOW stories from today:
Christy was overcome with emotion upon seeing all the supplies unpacked and put away. The thought that individuals, many of whom will never visit the Center or meet the children, would donate diapers and wipes to soothe little bottoms and hats and flowered headbands to decorate little heads was wonderful. She kept thinking of the people who had been moved to go to the store and bought the packages to send across the Gulf of Mexico. She realized that each person may have only sent one item, but all together it made a huge difference. As a matter of fact, Howie stated that our team brought in 12,280 diapers, which is a record delivery. Many of those diapers came from the fall FBCH diaper drive.
Katherine changed her first diaper and it was a doozy, but she is ready to go and change some more!
The mats donated by the Womack’s and Bradenton Christian School have been installed. There were enough to double the amount of mats in the Chicks and Bunnies, to change out the mats in the Canaries and to add some to the play room for the Squirrels and Ducks. They are so pretty and bright! Terri was amazed that they seemed to multiply as they were unpacked! The old mats from the Canary room will be used to create a floor over the dirt floor of Basilio's house. (the Center’s gardener)
Bethany is excited about the work that she is doing with Basilio this week. She is helping him to learn more about beekeeping, chicken raising and composting. The team brought in five bee hives and equipment for the work, for which Bethany was able to secure donations. She noted how inspiring it is to see a need and be able to meet it as a thought turns into fruition.
Karen was grateful for the laughter she heard today. She did not expect to hear laughter in the middle of such desperate circumstances. Howie noted that as we become Jesus’ hands and feet this week, we also become his lap and his laughter.
Dallas was impressed with the way that the children soaked up the attention and the way the love flowed back and forth between team and children.
Robert appreciates the way that everyone on the team has come together as a family. He said it is such an example of the body of Christ working together, brothers and sisters in Christ serving alongside each other and loving each other along with the children.
All of the younger members of the team, Reagan, Dallas, Aubrey, Luke, Elizabeth, Kennedy, Mary Emma, Illiana, Abby and Emily received recognition for how hard they worked and how they stayed on task when it was play time and when it was work time.
Stephanie was humbled by the way the children sucked the bones of their chicken clean and ate--without complaint--food that many American children would turn their nose up at.
Ella, the summer intern, was everywhere today encouraging and helping. She has fallen in love with Kaylee who, at 18 months old, wears clothes sized for a newborn.
Danny read storybooks with passion and dramatized them. Ask him about the wild chimpanzee!
There was dancing going on in the Squirrels and Ducks room as music blared and moms and daughters invited the children to join them in praising God through dance. Not to mention burn off some energy twirling and spinning.
Abby’s favorite part of the day was helping the girls fix their hair with new flower hair accessories made especially for them. All the girls loved their new “dos”, but one girl in particular kept studying her reflection in a mirror.
We know we are not supposed to, but we are all finding our “favorites”. While we work very hard to share the love, some have wiggled into our hearts farther than others. Emily’s favorite is Victoria who was not feeling well today so wanted some extra attention. Luke enjoyed playing ball with Andres. Patty and Terri are fighting over Jefferson! Dallas has many favorites, but Maria Asuncion chose her and refuses to smile for anyone else.
Luis Fernando can walk by himself now as long as he does not know he is walking alone. When he realizes no one is holding onto him, he sits down and cries.
For those of you who have chosen Billy as your favorite, here is a special story about him. Today, Wendy put her IPOD into Shelly’s IPod cube. The cube was sitting on the table while everyone danced and Billy was rocking out, swinging his arms and jumping in place. He was laughing and smiling and enjoying the music with the rest. Then, he discovered the IPod Cube and that ended his dancing. He was mesmerized by the machine. He put his hands around the cube and could feel the vibration as he slowly ran his finger over it. He looked at the pictures on the IPod and when they disappeared, he learned that all he had to do was touch the screen and the picture would return. He had a look of rapture on his face as he “felt” the sounds coming from the machine. Wendy said it was like he was thinking, “Where has this been all my life?” Then, he wanted to know, “How does this work?” and he studied the machine with great concentration memorizing every aspect of it. For so many of us, Billy has been a loving sweet soul who welcomes everyone with his brilliant smile. But, we rarely get to see what he is thinking and today, we saw a little boy who has the heart of a techie geek!
Finally, we have a special prayer request for all those who love the children: All the bunnies are sick with a fever and could not come out of their room. Several are really feeling miserable and did not want to eat. Pray that they're feeling better tomorrow, so we can dance and praise with them, too!
No comments:
Post a Comment