Wow.

What a day.

So yesterday I went along with one of our ministry teams to participate in a VBS that Pastor Joe holds at his church twice a year (I was mistaken earlier) for street children in the area. Tuesday and Wednesday the attendees topped out at about 350, but I guess the word had spread, because we estimate that we had 450 little sweaty bodies packed in the church! It was not quite so organized chaos, but it was beautiful.

I wrote on Wednesday that my goal was to just give love. And that is exactly what I tried to do. The team pretty much had all of their details worked out, so I wasn't needed to help all that much. So I just sat myself down near the front and then this happened:



And what you can't really see in that picture is the little boy who was sleeping on my leg. And drooling, by the way. :) The girls pretty soon started touching my hair, so I took it down and immediately I had 20 hands smoothing it down on my head.

I thought about something one of the college girls said here a few weeks ago in debrief. Yesterday I truly experienced seeing people through Jesus' eyes. If I was seeing them with my own, I would have been miserable. I was hot, sweaty, thirsty, with tons of smelly kids touching me with dirty hands. But I loved it. I loved it! And there is no doubt in my mind that it was Christ in me that felt that way. Because Christ sees those children as precious, so much so that He died for them.

Last night we had really hard rains, and I lay in bed crying for those kids. Many have no one to care for them. There were several kids who came in carrying infants and toddlers. It was amazing to watch them take care of each other. I don't know where they sleep at night, but I prayed that they were safe and dry.

I don't really have any more words to describe the day. I truly felt emptied out afterwards. One of the American team rode back with me, and I was a wee bit annoyed that she was wanting to talk, and about trivial things. I just wanted to be still and pray. So, I humbly offer up these pictures and video to you and ask that you pray with me for the beautiful, amazing, precious children in them.









They were praying like this. Isn't it cute? :)







She came up and sang "My Redeemer Lives" in French. It was probably one of the most worshipful times I have ever experienced.



WAY more kids ended up coming. It was standing room only!



Watching a dramatic reenactment of David and Goliath. Look at the joy on their faces!





And video- this was taken early in the morning:



This one is specifically for Kim! You will hear why... :)