Thorns and Roses

A day is done. Each night we are meeting as a group to sing, pray and reflect on the day. We talk about some of the bad things and then we talk about the good things we saw, felt and experienced that day and the good always far outweighs the bad. We were able to teach 90+ kids about God today and we don't know how far those seeds will go and grow. We handed out over 6,000 fliers today about the School of the Bible and we don't know how far those seeds will go and grow but it is exciting because while we don't know what God will do with those seeds, we have faith some will produce fruit. I wish I could describe the different things we have seen and experienced, the people who have tried to talk to us as we rush around founding one of the Brazilians to speak to them or the kids whose smiles and hugs light up a room.

One thing many of us realized today was how tired we were at the end of the day but as we discussed the good things happening around us, I think we would all agree that we could and should press on further and spend more time and give more effort to share the Good News. That is what we will do tomorrow. We don't know how many kids (and maybe families) we will affect nor how many fliers we will give to people who need to know God but we will approach the day with renewed vigor to share Jesus, to share God, to share love and the salvation we know to people in a foreign land. In all we do tomorrow, there will be great purpose.
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I want to give a big thank you to Tim Brumfield. Tim is an instructor at Sunset in Lubbock and has joined us on both our trips here as a teacher and interpreter. This year, he found Skype, an inexpensive Internet phone system that he is sharing with anyone who wants (or can wait in line for the conversations to be over). Tim is an invaluable gift to us all.

I also want to thank Will. I don't know his last name but he was an exchange student in Decatur last year and lives in Sao Paulo, Brazil. His parents paid to fly him here, paid for his room and food and he is helping as an interpreter at the VBS program. Amy and Sammie befriended him in Decatur and he attended church several times. Will isn't a Christian...yet...but has a heart of gold and I am sure we are planting seeds with him as he labors with us.
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Sammie Parker's luggage wound up in Paris, France. Thanks American Airlines. Several people have been sharing with her and we have helped buy whatever she needs. It's been frustrating for her and we have (slim) hopes that her luggage may arrive Friday or Monday. We'll see.
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Keep praying for us. Our efforts do take a physical toll with the heat and humidity and the strain of working with limited resources and little understanding. It is nothing we are not happy to overcome but the comfort of your prayers strengthens us.

We love you all and miss you.