Answered Prayers and Rainy Days

Hey people it's Russell! 

Hi Dad and Mom, I love and miss you guys! Driving has been a blast, and I can't wait to tell you how amazing it has been here!

Well, needless to say God has been moving powerfully over our team and over the academy kids! Many prayers have been answered, but more to that later!

The day started off with an early and rainy morning. Although it was gloomy, we all enjoyed the rain and time to bundle up in warm clothes! We all headed over for the Wednesday chapel meeting down at the academy where Kim spoke about anger and forgiveness. She did an amazing job, and you could feel all the kids paying attention and staying attentive to what she had to say. We spent the day tidying up the retreat center, and then, it was time for us to begin our after school activities with the students. Danielle, Taylor, and I headed up the Bible Memorization/Rap/Sing off battle where the students had a set amount of time to memorize a Bible verse, and perform it for us, the judges. It was so rad! A couple of the groups really brought the heat by rapping, playing beats, and danced with the limited time we gave them. We had to have a tie-tie breaker because they were so great! A double tie breaker! The students also brought the heat in their hip-

hop dance class with Ellen and Rachel. Students also participated in a fitness class with Sarah where they definitely learned how true, "No pain. No gain" is. Finally, in true rainy day activity spirit, Abby led the students in a game of Spoons.

After dinner, Sarah taught the nightly devotional with the students and did amazing! She also shared on anger and how God is her Healer. The kids responded positively and asked some great questions during response time. After that we headed into a classroom to pray over one of the grade 12's (matrics). We've been doing this to bless the students that are soon going to graduate from the academy. We prayed over one student tonight and got some powerful words and pictures for him. After we prayed, he asked if he could receive even more prayer. The prayers for him then shifted into a time of asking God for inner healing for him. It was just another example of how the Spirit has been moving here in the students. Please continue to pray for students hearts to become responsive to the Spirit and for our team to step out in obedience to what we're hearing during those times. 

Finally, I just wanted to share a personal story with you about a prayer that has been answered in my life. I have been praying and journaling for God to appoint me a younger high school guy that I could hopefully connect with, in hopes that I could possibly pray for or just simply hang out with during the two weeks we are here. Well let me tell you, He answered! 

First off, each grade was assigned to write welcome letters to a couple of our team member and the grade 8's ended up writing a welcome note to me. Remember that for later. This kid, Goodwell, came into one of the group activities I was helping in and I could notice there was something different about this kid. Different in a sense that he reminded me a lot of myself. We started to hang out during the week and throughout the daily after school programs. I finally had to ask God what He was up to, so I prayed and journaled about it. Kim then got a hold of a list of students that were not sponsored yet, so I frantically asked if Goodwell was on that list. He was! I was super excited and prayed about it that night hoping God would answer me quickly! After talking to the staff about the opportunity and further confirmation, it couldn't be more clear that Goodwell was placed in my life for this exact reason! I soon got to tell him that I needed to have a "talk" with him and he got a weird look on his face but agreed. Let me tell you, the excitement was building! That next day I reminded him that I needed to have a talk with him. I said that hanging out with him and getting to know him has been awesome, but there was a certain something that God has been putting on my heart lately. I then told him that I knew he didn't have a sponsor, and that from now on that I would be sponsoring him! His smile and expression was literally indescribable. He then gave me a huge hug and said that he had been praying for this moment for years! After walking back to the academy, we said our goodbyes until dinner, and he started jumping, skipping, and screaming! Being the emotional wreck that I am, this made start bawling my eyes out. The feeling and immediate effects I was having on this amazing kids' life was, and still is, unforgettable. 

Remember how I said that the grade 8's wrote me that welcome letter, yep you guessed it. Goodwell is in grade 8! Coincidence, I think not!

GOD IS GREAT!

Please continue to show the love by responding our posts, and continually praying for our team! We love you all and thank you for the constant support!

After telling Goodwell that I was going to be his sponsor 

Kim and Yanga, one of the Matrics

Rachel and Nwabisa, one of the star performers from the Bible Rap Off