8/5/10 -- 'Diana'

In the morning,

Team B (my team) went to visit Sonia's orphanage.
There's a little girl from there that I grew close to last year. She's about 7 years old, 4'3" and commonly in my prayers.
She's got definite abandonment issues and it breaks my heart every time I leave her.
Early on in the week, the Loudoun Team (Team F) visited the Orphanage. Diana had been asking for me and had even drawn a picture for me (which a certain someone lost before i was able to see it).

Anyways,

Today, our team went to visit the orphanage.
I walked in and Diana was waiting at the door with her back turned.
I called her name, she turned around and we embraced. It was so awesome to see her again.

We spent some time together -- her and her friends, estel and cyntia -- playing guitar, singing some worship songs (Diana liked the songs with fast strumming) and climbing things.

Relative to the attitude of children at home,
These kids have such loving hearts.
My cousins won't come near me sometimes when I'm looking dirty -- and i'm quite sure the "bum sister" wouldn't either (look at the post about my sisters).
But these little girls literally wiped the sweat off of me.
and if you know me...
i sweat..
A LOT.
that was touching to me.
It was time to go and I was pretty upset that we had to leave so quickly.
I really hope I'll be able to go there once more.
Her words to me when we were leaving were, "Simon, when are you coming back?"
I gave her my silly bands, hugged her, and kissed her on the head.
Will I go back?
(from left to right: Cyntia, Estel, Diana)

No se (i don't know).

Albeit,
and yes. I used that word.
I am here for one reason.
And if Not seeing Diana for a year so that we may faithfully proclaim the Glorious Message of Christ and His Sacrifice, then here am i, Lord.
Send me.

8/4/oh ten.

so we went out today and visited the village of Honduras again.
This time was much better.
We had much more prepared, less craziness and everything seemed to run a little bit nicer than last time. [We had the assistance of the worship, drama and step teams with us]

Thank you to all who prayed!
The Gospel was effectively spread and affection for the people grew so much (especially for me).


I will update when i'm less tired.
thank you!
JesuCristo! GLORI A DIOS!

"Good Morning, God."

EVENTS
8/2/10 -- Shopping/Honduras (Village)
8/3/10 -- Jackie's Orphanage/Garbage dump (Village)


8/2/10
Yesterday, we went out to go shopping. I know, it's kind of weird. You're on a mission trip and the first thing you go to do is shop. But! We bought all kinds of stuff.. and most importantly we bRought and tried to share the love of Christ to the shop owners.
It was amazing to see the our own share and be able to have testimonies about what God's doing just in our own group.

Especially this guy. He was in a room with me and some other guys for McLean Bible Church's Rock Student Ministries: Beach Week. To see him grow so much in such a short amount of time, to be able to love him and encourage him, to have the privilege to get a glimpse of what God is doing in his life... i'm in awe.
and Hope is still rising.

/

After the shop, we went to visit a village called "Honduras"
I don't believe it has any affiliation with the country of Honduras.. but I could be wrong-- as I often am.
The village was crazy. The kids were crazy.
Don't get me wrong, we loved the kids and had tons of fun with them.
But they were crazy.




There was fighting and just a bunch of craziness.
This village really needs to experience the Joy of Christ.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) we're going again and I'm exited and nervous.
I shouldn't be nervous..
I just need to believe that God will DO WORK.
He will.
So please be prayerful about that certain village!



8/3/10
SO we went to visit a place called Jackie's.
She owns an orphanage for kids that she pulls out of their birth-parents care.
She begs the parents that she would be able to take care of their children: give them a place to eat, sleep, live.
Most of these kids have parents that are involved in prostitution and, heart-breakingly, have been sexually abused themselves.
Jackie is a TOTAL woman of God.
She is such an inspiration and just a wonderful person.

A huge testimony to all of us is this 15 year-old boy named Israel.

Israel is under Jackie's care and just an awesome soldier with a heart that beats for God. This kid wants to be a pastor when he grows up.
He is a product of incest and is therefore crippled. Same with his sister, Clara -- who, by the way, is equally awesome.
We live such comfortable lives and have
"so much"
but every day here is a wake up call.
Every day i'm reminded that what i think is much..
really has no eternal value.
this MacBook i'm typing away on,
i love that my parents got it for me.
I love that they decided to go a bit deep and say,
"I know we wouldn't normally spend this much money..
but we want to get it for you."
But this thing...won't be in heaven with me.
In fact, it probably will be outdated within a decade.
But this kid, who has nothing of worldly value..has such a heart, a fire, for God
and it beats and burns con fuerte (with strength...i think...please excuse mi espanol).




/

Afterwards, we went to visit "The Dump"
a literal village built around a dump.
There was a constant stench.
Many of us were overwhelmed by everything.
Naked kids running around.
We decided to prepare and give food..and there was a mini stampede (almost).
We tried to control the crowd as best as we could...but it was crazy.


I mean...sure, we might do the same thing at home for free stuff...
but I'm sure that we wouldn't do it for a juice-box and a crappy margarine and ham sandwich.

These guys need to be reached. Only about 10% of the people were said to be true believers in the village. but of those 10%, there are faithful believers. Those that need counsel and those that know the need for Jesus in their lives.
These are also people we must be praying for.

Phirst day

So yesterday we arrived at the Dominican Republic!

Flight 3 left at 4 am
Flight 2 Left around 6
And flight 1 left around 8

WE arrived in the DR later than all and didn't get a chance to go out and do anything
but I did take some pictures of the journey to the hotel.