Can't Believe We're Halfway Done...

The week is going by so fast! We are more than halfway through the trip so far. Today was a great day, and we got a LOT done on the house. We have it almost completely painted, except for the trim, and the roof officially has shingles! Then, our afternoon time today was the best yet. The neighborhood kids are getting to know and trust us, so they're getting more into the songs, games and just playing together.

Last night we had a great sharing time before lights out. The students all had a chance to share what they're experiencing, and it was really meaningful to see OUR students open up and share more than they would at home. This experience is bringing them together and they're becoming more comfortable being honest with one another. Tonight's meeting time will consist of some time in worship and an opportunity to encourage one another is specific ways. This is always one of the more meaningful times together on the mission trip, as it connects us to one another as well as recognizing how each person is serving.

One experience I'd like to share; yesterday morning at breakfast we were talking about how good the food was and one student said, "I'm usually so busy that I don't even eat breakfast. It's cool to have so much time to slow down and actually EAT." This struck me as a profound statement, and when I brought it up last night, the students all resonated with how the entire trip is like that; we take time to do things that we usually hurry through when we're at home. The group talked about HOW we can create that space at home, and I was so excited to hear their reflections on how to take these lessons home with us. Please pray for more opportunities for growth such as that one.

--Brendan