Day 11: "Bless the Lord, oh my soul."

Interesting story: Remember the pot hole that popped two of our tires? We all casually looked for it on the way home yesterday and didn't see it (nor does anyone from Car #1 remember seeing it on the way there in the first place...) and today when we looked it also was not there. Strange much? Spiritual warfare much?

Correction: One of our first blogs said we had a story written by Miranda. That was a typo, it was actually from Jessica. Also, Jessica was supposed to blog tonight about the Choose to Wait program we put on, but due to technical difficulties she'll be writing on the next blog.

VBS was great. More kids were welcomed into God's kingdom! The angels are celebrating with God I'm sure. We had an awesome opportunity to pass out some beanie babies to the Sweet Home kids, because one of our sponsors donated a whole bunch of them. The kids LOVED them. It was fun seeing them cling to them as they left for the afternoon.

It was a rough day, knowing that it was the last day of VBS but we pulled through and finished off strong.

Here is a blurb from Kristy about one of her experiences:

"Two years ago I was able to go to Sweet Home in hopes to find a new partnership for Rock Harbor. Eight of us were taken to an HIV support group where a group of ladies fed us soup. Shortly after, the women led us over to a “crèche” or preschool. That was my first taste at falling in love with the little ones in Sweet Home. Last year was the first time Rock Harbor was able to do VBS for Sweet Home. We were able to take the same crèche kids that we had met the year before and tell them how much Jesus loves them. One of the little girls I connected with was Yumkella. I remembered her from the year before. I still pray for her every day. I have a picture of her framed in my room, and I absolutely adore her. This year VBS was different because the crèche closed months ago. There are many children that are the same from last year, but no Yumkella. I asked the CHE’s if they knew her. I asked every day about her. No one really knew who I was talking about. Today was our last day of VBS. I have to admit the first round of VBS was tough because we were all discouraged and sad that it was our last day. When the CHE’s entered the room I noticed that they had brought a new little girl with them. She looked familiar, but it wasn’t until a few hours in that I asked her name and found out that it was Yumkella. She has grown very tall over the year, and looked a little different, but is still as cute as ever. It was such a special time for me. I really felt like the Lord brought me her as a blessing considering it being the last day I was going to be in Sweet Home. I held her and she started repeated the same phrase over and over. I asked the CHE’s what it meant and I found out she was saying, “You are my mother.” She then asked me, “Are you going?” That absolutely broke my heart, but yet I left so joyful and thankful that I got to spend a little time with her. This trip has been amazing. It is my third time here, and I just fall more and more in love with the people here. It is a special place." -Kristy

Kristy and Yumkella.

Some of our team with some of the CHE's.

Some of the team at this restaurant called Spur with a few of the Bridges staff and students.
(We had a chance last week to take the Best Overall students out to dinner, and tonight we took the Most Improved students.)

Kids with the banners and stuffed animals we passed out in Sweet Home today.

The CHE's passing out the beanie babies.

Kids raising their hands to accept Christ for the first time!

Sorry for the lack of update on how the Choose to Wait program went, you will get a complete summary on the next blog. But for now, the kids have been super responsive and excited about the material that has been taught.

Please pray for Deb, her stomach has been irritating her today.

Please pray for our last day of teaching classes and being at Sweet Home.

Please also lift up our entire team as we're winding down our trip, and each of us is heartbroken to know our work here will soon be done. Pray for our team to be comforted in God's hands, and for our final days to be perfect closure.

Thanks to everyone who has been commenting. We love hearing from each of you!