Day 6

Hey Everyone,

Day 5 was a good one. We were back at the same location as yesterday for VBS. The kids were easier to work with and much more attentive. I actually made a friend without realizing it yesterday. I went up next to one of the little girls yesterday who was playing a game and started dancing to the music. Without missing a beat, she stopped what she was doing and started mimicking my dance. Today when I came back she ran up to me and was very pleased that I remembered her name was Alisandra. She sat next to me during the large group meetings and I told everyone she was my sister.

This afternoon Pastor Mike Williams shared challenged everyone to listen to how God was speaking to us and what we needed to do as we left here on Saturday so not to forget this experience. After that we headed to a village called Polyclinica. It was nice then yesterday's village but still very poor. It was actually kind of weird, because there would be semi/nice places and then slums right next to it. Some of us did crafts with the kids, while some of us played games, and also some of us went from house to house to meet families and pray. I was also able to get a Coca Cola. It was awesome.

I played games with some kids and was once again disturbed by the conditions these kids live in. There is very little supervision and kids just climb on whatever. A ball went up on the room of a house and a kid just climbed up there to get it. I must confess though that it happened again, and Mike scooted up there and got it himself. Now Mrs. Savchuck, if you're reading this, he was up there before I could stop him. Anyway, I also saw a 3 year old climb a wall and just stand on top of it. It's very scary and sad to think about this.

Once again, a lot of them don't wear shoes and socks. I mention this because I noticed in some grass, where a lot of them were running, there was a shattered glass bottle. Glass was everywhere. I found a plastic bag and gathered up as much of it as possible. Some of the kids came over to see what I was doing and almost seemed surprised like the thought had never crossed their mind to pick it up.

Kevin and Jen went with the group that went house to house to pray with people. Kevin took a bunch of pictures and explained to us tonight the horrible conditions in which a lot of people were living in. There was dirty water used to clean both clothes and dishes. There were naked kids, no floors in houses, and water problems. They were amazed though at the joy and faith a lot of the people had.

They actually went to visit a blind man, and Kevin was actually asked to pray. I will share with you a paraphrase of what he prayed. He basicall said that Jesus healed the blind, but in reality without him we are all blind. When we all are in heaven with him though we will all see. I can't tell you how much this encourages my heart to hear a student I have worked with over the years, pray such a bold and insightful prayer.

Keep us in your prayers. Tomorrow some of us will be going back to Bombita where we will see our sponsored children again. Tomorrow night we will have a big church service and hopefully see a lot of the kids again and their families. Thanks for your prayers and support!

Dave