Day One And All Is Well!

Well, it's 10:00 pm on Thursday, June 17 and we just recently arrived back to Tim and Bambi's wonderfully cool apartment. The weather was very hot and humid today (surprise, surprise!) and I think I lost 5 lbs. from sweat. Tim "took it easy" on us today :/. After waking up to an amazing breakfast prepared by Bambi and two of the teen girls from the Center (that's what they call the church here, will explain later), we took off to the local mall to pick up a few needed items (snacks!) and then went over the the local High School to meet the team that runs the campus ministry there and to meet the principal of the school. She is the powers that be for this very important ministry and Tim wanted her to know how important their good standing is to him and the church. She was very gracious and accepted an invitation to join us for lunch sometime next week. The local teens were VERY interested in us. We were somewhat of a freak show with our light skin, hair and eyes. Most probably have never seen anyone with blond hair and blue eyes. They were like little puppies, so sweet and affectionate. My heart really goes out to them. So many come from broken and/or abusive homes. They are truly wonderful, loving people and so gracious and kind. After that we have lunch at Pizza Hut! :) Best meal in days! Ate like a pig knowing it may be my last edible meal of the day. After lunch we went to the Center, which is awesome. Met many more teens and young adults. So amazing how in love they are with Christ and how focused on mission (local and global) they are yet so young. Truly contagious! Adam and I were invited to accompany two young women (Kari and Kay) who were conducting a "cell group" with children in the community. I have not often seen such poverty, yet the kids were happy and very curious and affectionate to both of us. We played games, sang worship songs (in Togala, their native language, which was truly humorous for me and Adam!) and witnessed Kay (who is new to the Lord and still searching) conduct her first Bible lesson with the kids. She told me after that she had been nervous, especially with us there. It was a wonderful opportunity to encourage and love on her. She truly is gifted and her heart is seeking. She suffers from depression and given the struggles in my own family I know God placed me with her today. He is soooo amazingly wise! Being immersed in His Kingdom work here leaves me humbled and honored. I am teary now just posting His amazing events of this day. I wish you all could be here with us to experience probably the most life changing work of my life. I am looking forward to what the rest of the trip brings and ready to serve! We ended our day having dinner by the beach and I watched God's handiwork in the most beautiful sunset. What a wonderful God we serve! Praise, glory and honor are His forever.