Day 2

- Feeling the passion and energy of other Christians worshipping God 

- Frying my own brain translating Spanish

- yummy food

- Tito, Victor, the kids and our friends

- VBS preparation

- the team gets closer

- great team time in music and sharing

Going to church down here is one of the best things that hapens all week.  For some it's a reminder of their own times of worship in tha past.  For others it's new and exciting.  But, for everyone, it's an amazing reminder that we all serve the same God and that we can worship in many, many styles and still be in front of the same God.I think it's always a little eye opening for many team members to see such passion during church and it's great for many to see emotion so boldly.  The sermon was about making choices and taking responsibility.  They used a translator which was wonderful and the whole team was able to follow along.  My own brain was fried though because I tried hard to stay wth the Spanish and I would short circuit any time he said I word I didn't know.  Even still, it was great.

The food here is great.  Seriously, Maria, the compound cook, has a tip jar she is so good.Chicken and rice, nachos, eggs racheros, it's all good.  A fe of the kids are going back for plate after plate of the food.  :-)  It may be a small thing, but having good food and not having to worry about being offered something that you might not like, but still have to eat is a blessing.

OK, this may be the best part of the trip for me.  If not, I can't WAIT to see what God is going to do.  We went to Los Brasiles today!  It was so wonderful to be in the town again.  see the familiar streets and buildings.  To drive in, knowing that we were going to be with many of the kids and adults that we have come to love so far.  We get to a new section of town that we will be working in and walk through.  Terry and I notice some beautiful flowers growing in teh yard of one of the residents.  We walk over, introduce ourselves and have a nice chat about them.  She is so proud of the flowers and seems to know a lot about most of them.  It's amazing to see the poverty that this woman is living in and yet see how great pride and care she gives to these beautful flowers.  It feels like a shaking of fists against the circumstances and an iron will to see love and beauty in the midst of a hard place.  So beautiful.  We finally make it over to the building for Imagine Ministries.  It's freshly painted, new wall around back, GRASS in the back yard, and renovated rooms in the main building.  There is no need to ask if God is still doing His work here or blessing this ministry.  It continues to grow meet needs, help children eat and be fed physically, emotionally and spiritually.

OK - so.....

I am sitting on a makeshift workbench beside one of the walls talking with one of the interns about everything when I hear someone say, "Hey, there's Tito and Victor.".  Now, you have to understand, it's been a year since I've been here and I've only been here three times so far.  I turn to see them coming, about 15 yards away.  I hop up and open my arms to see if anything wil happen.

Tito cocks his head as if thinking.  I figure he kind of recognizes me and might come give me a hug or high five.

Something clicks and loud enough to be heard outside the walls Tito yells Mateooooooooo!!!!  (my Spanish name), runs and jumps into my arms.  Victor is two steps behind and jumps up as well.  I am now hugging my two precious little boys again.  They won't let go.  I am being hugged so tight - the way I want to hug everyone I come in contact with.  God is so good to give me this moment.  I pray these times down here will be more than just fun.  I pray the love that Tito an Victor feel will propel them forward.  They ARE in school (public).  This is huge because Tito and Victor have been in and out of Imagine Ministries school numerous times because they just stop working.  Please pray that they stay in school.  An education will make ALL the difference for them here.  And, if they really are staying in school, that may mean that little Tito (11) and Victor (7) are truly growing and maturing.  I can't imagine it is anything less than the input of hundreds of people into their lives.

The skits and Bible verses for VBS came together today.  It was funy and funny.  Kids acting out the Good Samaritan and The Prodigal Son.Awkward, embarrasing moments, messed up translations, giggling all around.  The kids will LOVE it!

It always happens.  Sometimes early in the trip, sometimes later.  This year it 'seems' to be happening early.  Our group, as a whole, is starting to gel together. I pray this continues because I always feel that this is where others can see our love for each other.  What we say down here is hear far less than what we do.  Telling the story of the prodigal son may be interesting of funny and may even make sense to some of the kids, but seeing a bunch of the team laughing together, hugging, playing and loving each other - yeah - thats something desirable that we can really talk about.

Every night we have a time of music and sharing.  I loved that everyone wanted to do more songs last night.  You could probably have heard us singing for half a mile from up here on top of the building (where we meet at night).  Interestingly enough, the unplanned theme of the music seemed to be around God's love.  Go figure.  I love how God orchestrates things to work in specific ways for specific people. The singsing was great.  The sharing was open and wonderful. M'Cheyne alsways asks "What good things did you see today", "How were you stretched outside of your own comfort zone today?" and "How did you see God work today?" I think the whole group shared in one way or another.  Everyone is engaged. How could good things NOT happen when everyone is engage and wants to share and be a part of what is happening??

There may be more stuff, but breakfast is coming and I'm hungry.  :-)  Please pray for:

- M'Cheyne.  He tweaked his neck sleeping last night and is pretty bad pain this morning.

- our kids.  Day two or three is where they get tired and today is our first work day.

- our own hearts.  That we would stay engaged beyond just "doing the work" and look for how God is moving today.

- eventually someone on the team is going to rub someone else the wrong way.  Pray it gets resolved quickly, lovingly and has a good impact at the end.

- the kids and adults of Los Brasiles.  We are here to build relationships and help out along the way.  We want to come back with names, stories and prayers for everyone we meet.