Well, this is the final day at Amparo, and I am certain that it is going to be a very emotional and taxing day for the team.
As usual, we
had breakfast, followed by devotions (we finished the first chapter of
Philippians). We had a great discussion
about walking worthy of our calling.
After
devotions, we headed for Amparo. As we
arrived, we met together to review the plans for the day… The teaching of the colors of the “wordless
book”, the handing out of the bracelets, the instruction for the teachers for
the booklets we gave the school for the children – and a gift giving
opportunity from the team to the teachers (we gave them thank you cards, some
chocolates, and a team shirt), and our “assembly” for the kids while the
teachers are in their instruction time.
After the final planning session, we prayed and went to work.
The grate
crew went back to work, and by day’s end finished about 3/4 of the total
project, but they did a great (grate) job.
The teens split up from class to class and went about their daily
routine, only they added the teaching of the wordless book bracelets into the
plan for the day.
They did an
excellent job. The kids understood the
presentations, and could recite back the meanings of the particular
colors. We would randomly ask the kids
what the colors meant, and they could tell us – it was exciting to hear. We even had some who made professions of faith
– and as one of the kids put it, I am not sure if they fully understood, but
after they prayed, they said, “Hasta en Cielo” (See you in Heaven). The team loved sharing the gospel in a clear
way for the children to understand, and they encouraged them to go home and
share it with their family and friends.
As the day
went on, we finally got the opportunity after lunch (while the younger kids
were supposed to be sleeping), to pull all of the teachers together and share
with them their gift. They were very
appreciative, and the group shared tears and prayers as the teachers and the
team members encouraged one another.
While some
of the group was doing that, others were watching the children sleep – or at
least that is what they were supposed to be doing. Apparently you will need to ask Andrew, Jenny
and Julia (and possibly a few others) about their classroom during that half
hour. Utter chaos is the only way I can
describe the picture the kids painted for us during our debrief this
evening. Kids coloring the floor with
markers, coloring the windows with crayons, jumping all around the place –
other teens stepping into the chaos to help, apparently it was a sight to
behold.
While all of
that was going on, Emily and Kelsey were helping with the assembly time where
the older kids were singing, playing games, and being encouraged to follow
God. They were also experiencing a form
of chaos, but it was much more controlled.
The children were asked, “Why did this group come this week?” And they replied that they did not know. When asked why they thought the group was
there, they said, “to play with us… to teach us about Jesus… to help our teachers… etc.” We were able help them understand the reason
we were there was because Jesus loved us and He loved them too, and we were
there to tell them about it.
Leaving was
difficult, but the team responded well.
We left around 3:30 and went to CAG to watch the girl’s soccer team
play. The game ended with a 2-2 tie with Megan Wilson scoring both of
CAG’s goals.
The day
wrapped up with dinner, singing, and a debrief time of sharing, crying,
laughing, and praising God for what He has done through us. It has been an
amazing week.
Tomorrow we
part ways. I will watch the team head
off around 7:30 for an incredible day of shopping, zip lining and finally
dinner at TecPan! It will be a great
day. I will be heading home around 3:45
to arrive in Nashville at 10:00 PM – only to leave the next morning for
Peru! I wish I could stay with the team
but God has other plans for me.
Thought for the day: How many times do I think about the items I
could use to do my job better. I would
love a “go-pro” so I can record video of the team’s activities – especially if
I can do it without the children knowing.
I would love a Brookstone pocket projector so that I can create
presentations to show the kids the pictures we took all week. I would love…
and the list continues because there are so many great things out there
to help me do my job better.
But as I
watched the teachers this week, I was humbled at the way they are able to do so
much with so little. I saw one teacher
today who used her phone to play music for the kids. Another teacher uses a tape player (for those
of you who don’t know – that is what we used before CD’s, Ipods, etc). They lack pencils. They lack basic school supplies and things
that we assume are “necessary” to teach and learn.
Yet, they do
not complain. They do what they can with
what they have.
God help me
be content with what I have and use all that I have for Your glory.
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