More Trucks!

Day #6 - This morning started off with two trucks full of Kids Against Hunger boxes showing up just as everyone started to eat breakfast. Each box contains 33 packets of high-nutrition vitamin fortified rice-soy casserole mix, each packet feeding a meal for six people. So once again we dropped everything and headed down to unload. It took just under two hours with great teamwork. We were able to then finish breakfast and head up to the prayer rock. This morning we were asked to share how this trip compared to our expectations. It was an amazing time of sharing and learning more about everyone. I am so very thankful to have been blessed with the opportunity to come here and share this experience with such a nice group of people. It really feels like family.

We were then off to VBS with the 2nd and 3rd graders. What a fun and uplifting experience it was to work with the kids. We taught them Jesus Loves Me with hand signs. It was awesome how quickly they learned and how excited they were to have us there with them. After the song we told them how much God loves us all and how He makes us all unique. We also told them how happy we are to be here talking to them about Jesus and how much He loves us. Then we helped them paint wood necklaces in the shape of a hand. The children then put their thumbprint on them to show how unique and special they are to God. They were so excited to put their thumbprints on, they were jumping up and down all over the place.

After VBS we headed over to the storage building, next to where the much needed new warehouse will be, to hand out love bundles to the school children. A love bundle is a pack of age appropriate supplies including a towel, peanut butter, school supplies, clothing, toys, toiletrees, etc. It was so wonderful to see the children's faces as we handed them out. During this time there were some kids from the village on the outside of the compound fence watching and they caught Pat’s eye so she had someone bring them around so we could give them love bundles as well. That was really special, they were so grateful to have been included. Those sweet sad little faces staring at us from the other side of the fence became faces of joy. I really am struck by the hearts of those that run this place and how quickly needs are addressed and taken care of. It so touches my heart and makes me want to stay here forever to serve alongside these wonderful people.

After lunch we went to a tent city near Titanyen to hand out beans and shoes. Once we arrived we sang some songs and then headed to the church which consisted of four poles and some tarps for a covering. We each took turns scooping up cans of beans for each child and then each adult to hand out a total of 500 pounds of beans. What a good feeling to know at least for a day or two these people would have food to eat. Next came the shoes, everyone lined up and we fitted them individually at one of several stations. Unfortunately we ran out of large sizes before everyone received shoes. We had one box of crocs that everyone wanted, the rest were mostly flip flops. There is a tremendous need for school/closed toe shoes here, the kids are not allowed into school without proper attire, flip flops cannot be worn to school. I am going to leave both pairs of closed toed shoes I brought here. When I come back I want to bring a bunch of school appropriate shoes. It is really sad that some people don’t have any shoes at all. It is crazy to see the kids running all over the place on the rocks with no shoes. It almost makes my feet hurt just watching them.

After we were finished at the tent city we headed back to the mission for delicious fried chicken dinner. Its hard not to feel guilty eating some of the meals we have while children are starving throughout the country. Yet we are appreciative of the care we are receiving here and know the mission is being good stewards with what they have been given. After dinner, people were getting showered and relaxing and another two trucks of food showed up that needed to be unloaded right away. These trucks were unloaded by flashlight because there is no electricity in the storage rooms. What a blessing that we have had 6 trucks equaling 3 shipping containers in two days(today's trucks alone contained 144,000 meals!). And what a blessing to have a group here to help unload! Praise God, He is good - All the time!!!!!