Exactly one week from today, I'll be tired of being on a plane. It's hard to believe the end of our trip is coming to an end, but it has been so great; I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I'm starting to feel ready to be home. Also I'm ready to know exactly what I'm eating!
Last week during holiday club, we took the kids to a field by the beach to play soccer. I was the only leader in the van with the first load of kids, so I got to look after about 25 six, seven and eight year olds...by myself. If there is a wall that marks the end of the field with rocks and the ocean at the bottom, will all of the kids want to play on it? Yes, and they won't listen when you tell them no. It was like a constant flood gate of kids running to sit and play on the wall and me telling them to stay away from it. One six year old girl also bit another girl. So maybe mass quantities of small children aren't 100% my thing at this point in my life. I'm glad I know that one now. After all the kids played soccer, the leaders got to play a couple games to earn points for their kids. I can say that this was the first time I've been disappointed in the teens. A few of them took the game a little too serious. There was yelling and fighting and arguing with all the little ones watching what was happening. I pointed out to them that they were setting an example, but it didn't seem to help. In the leaders' meeting the next morning there were a few apologies and a lot of discussion about the day before. I think one of the best things you can do is just let people make their own mistakes and learn from it because that meeting showed so much growth. Even in grade 9 and 10, they had the courage realize their mistakes, admit them, and apologize for them. That takes a lot of strength. I'll be sad to leave them, but we set up a pen pal system! We're going to try to get a letter to our teen partner at least once a month and be as much of a support system as we can be from the other side of the world. My partners are Jenna and Nusrah! We did our pen pal reveal last Friday morning and all the teens seemed excited about it. I can't wait to keep getting to know them even after I'm home!
My faith- A couple weeks ago, 3 missionaries from the World Race moved in with the family that Carolyn and Kaitlyn are living with. We've hung out with them and the rest of their team a couple of times and all of them are so awesome. Their love for God and sharing his Word is truly inspiring. Last Friday, their team came together with our team to have a worship night. We prayed over each other in pairs and I was with one of the world racers, Mariah. Her heart and her love for the people and God are pure. I have never met anyone that depends so fully on God. The stories she shared with me are really powerful. I'm so thankful that we've had the chance to get to know their team. I admire the relationship that each of them has with God and their confidence in Him. I've been in prayer and in the Word a lot more because of the fire they have. I started writing my prayers down in my journal. I never thought it would make such a difference, but it's more fulfilling for me, and it keeps me focused on talking to God. My personal relationship with Him has grown abundantly in the past couple of weeks. God is great!
"The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." Exodus 15:2
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