Real Need

This is a clip of song time at a feeding program.  There was over 100 people that came to get food.  Mostly children, some mothers came as well.  It still bewilders me how alot of children don't seem old enough to walk to the church by themselves, but yet they also bring their younger siblings with them. Children that are 6, 7, and 8 years old bring their little 1 - 3 year old brother or sisters. They show up around 9:30 in the morning and just play around the church. Singing and Bible story time start at 10:30 and then they eat. We  leave around 12:00 and the children are usually still  playing outside the church. The older children actually do a good job of watching their little ones. They  have to feed them and take care of them.  I think it is just amazing to see how much our children are really capable of.   I think sometimes we hold them back because we think they are too young or too immature to handle certain things, when really they are gifted, intelligent beings that can learn and do as much as we teach them. 

 It also really struck us this week just how actually hungry these people are.  There are a group of older boys that come that are around 12-15 years old.  They have got to the point in life where they want to look cool and be accepted, but they must come in and do Bible songs and story time in order to get food. So here they come and they happily sing Jesus Loves Me and listed to David & Goliath!

And I can tell you that every single child, ages 1-15, gets exactly the same thing, whatever is served and does not complain once. I have never heard, "Oh, I don't like the beans with that stuff on it" or "I don't like these kinds of noodles"! They eat and eat until whatever is served that day is gone.  Since I have a "picky" eater, this completely frustrates me. Just moving here and eating at the camp everyday has been a new challenge for Adam. We are working through it and he has eaten more new things than ever before...but we still have a ways to go!  So, there is such a real need and we feel so blessed to be able to help.

I also think it is kind of funny that these kids cut up and get in trouble just like ours back home. If you'll listen, the lady gets on to a group of boys during the singing because they are playing. She tells them they are going to have to come do a solo if they don't start behaving.  Reminds me of doing children's ministry at CCC!

Lexi went with our interns yesterday to a VBS program that they are helping a local church with.
They had over 200 kids come out! Lexi had a great time and fell in love with a little girl named Rosa. Here are some pics.

It's been a good week. We celebrated July 4th with fireworks after night chapel out on the beach with the team and interns.  I've never spent a July 4th in jeans and a sweatshirt!! The weather is actually warming up recently. Its been around 85 during the day and 70s at night. As long as we keep our windows open and fans on, we do just fine. 

Nate has started working on contacting pastors and trying to book appointments for the fall. So, he is taking some time for office work and is not on a build this week.  We will be back in the States in Sept - Oct and need to spread the word about EOC YUGO! They will start booking trips for 2012 soon and would love to have the calendar full!