With much excitement and expectation, we headed to the Orphanage for our first day of work and activities with the children at the Orphanage associated with Portantorchas (Torchbearer Bible school). There was an unexpected protest that blocked the road that leads to the orphanage -
so we took all our work equipment and walked the last bit. Apparently there was a group protest in an attempt to remove the principal of a local school nearby. We were glad for the walk and exercise. We continue to take in the breath-taking beauty of Costa Rica and the unseasonably pleasant weather. (We really are thankful for the easy weather.)For our construction projects - Our goal was to build a fence for the orphanage and start a garden while we are here. Work progressed well on setting up the fence posts - some of us dug holes for the posts, some mixed cement and others went about clearing the (soccer) field with a motorized weed-whacker (some enthusiastic first time whackers).
In the afternoon, we planned activities for the kids at the orphanage during the free time. This first day of orchestrating the activities was more of a challenge for us. We had some language difficulties and the kids streamed in and out of the planned activities. We also had to make-shift with what space we had to use to plan and sing with them (apparently the class room space we expected to use were not available to us). However, the children are really precious and we are just beginning to know them a little. Through this afternoon, we all learned very valuable lessons in going with the flow of the Holy Spirit rather than be locked into our well-laid plans.
In our evening debrief- we shared how God touched us differently throughout the day and how we were all pushed to different degrees our zones of comfort in service and in just being with people who do not speak our language, or go with our flow, and working without all the resources we have back home. For several of us - it is our first experience with being in an orphanage - and the realization that some of these kids have lived lives without the abundance of what we have and of parents and perhaps experienced years of rejection- hit our hearts. We begin to understand - maybe why we are here....
Thanks so much for praying for us and checking in - ( our families and friends and supporters - and a Hi to Newsong Tuesday night bible study since it is Tuesday :) )
We covet your continual and consistent prayers during this missions trip and requests top of mind are:
1) Continued wisdom on planning and organizing of activities - and to be responsive to the Holy Spirit in what he leads us to do and to be each day. We could use guidance in getting more structure into how we could work and interact with the children in the orphanage.
2) Patience and courage for all of us as we all push beyond varying degrees of comfort zones (language, gifts, skills we bring or not)
3) Move as a team led for the Holy Spirit - "that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. Phil. 1: 27" - that we may all decrease and that He will increase, that we become invisible and that He becomes visible.
4) God will continue to show us individually and as a team these transforming truths.
Praise God that John's luggage was opened by a very skilled local locksmith and we are very happy that he has clean clothes now.
Putting up post for a fence so kids won´t fall off the slope
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