The recovering wounded

It has been a very busy few days with our activities going right until bedtime so I have not had the chance to post. Sorry about that. Now I need to update you on the past three days once again.

Monday was park day. We rented a private park in Guarari and a bus and met the kids there. This is always a great day. It is a chance for the kids to get out of the nieghborhood and relax and be kids. The weather was great in the morning and the kids had a great time swimming in the pool, playing soccer, and playing on the swingsets.

Unfortunately, shortly after lunch time it began to rain and soon it was pouring. However, Gabe came to the rescue by challenging some of the kids to a race in the rain. Soon most of the kids were running in the rain and sliding down the big hill in the pouring rain and it wasn't long before Tristan and Phil joined them.

We finished the day with singing in the large dining building We sang many of the same songs we have sung with them all week long. When they put on a spanish version of "I can only imagine" by MercyMe it was difficult for many of us to keep it together as we knew our time together was coming to a close, yet were reminded we would be reunited one day in heaven. Despite the rain, there were plenty of tears as we saw them off at the bus. There were some very significant relationships formed and many found it very difficult to say goodbye.

We then returned to the YWAM base, but the emotional day was not over yet. After dinner, there was a team meeting where we debriefed the emotional day and then encouraged the terrific group of teens from Heredia that we had the priviledge of being part of our team. We then had a great prayer time as we prayed for them. Shortly after the meeting, their parents came to take them home with some more emotional goodbyes.

The day took the toll on the team not just emotional but physically as well. Peggi got very sick that night and many others were not feeling well. Tristan slammed his knee into a board and was walking painfully. And several of the team were tricked by the cloudy morning and got bad sunburns - especially Gabe who now resembles a lobster. And all of us were emotional and physically exhausted. We felt like the walking wounded.

The following day we had the priviledge of visiting Paul Jesperson at Roblealto, an orphanage and school where he teaches. He showed us around this incredible place. We met a couple of the home parents and some of kids although many were away with extended family as it is a school break for them now. This is an amazing facility that takes in children in trouble and gives them a great home, a great school, team sports, psychologists, therapists, and more. After touring Roblealto we went to Paul's home and enjoyed the hopitality of his wife Uli and their two sons.

We returned to the YWAM base for lunch and that afternoon we went to town and did some shopping. However, the day still wasn't over. After supper, we were invited to Norma and Fernando's home. As his health has him housebound, he really wanted to see the team. We spent a couple hours talking and praying with them. It was a good time with them and another late night.

Today we had a fun day and drove up the mountain to an area with waterfalls and animals. This area was devastated by an earthquake a few years ago and has been unaccessible until recently. It was a good day to rest and recover our strength.

Tomorrow, we have a work day at the YWAM base working on several projects. It should be interesting as we were just informed that the power company has told us that we will not have power all day. We also need to pack for our return trip on Saturday.