Oh the first day! Could not have been better! Sorry if it's hard to hear about for Canadian friends right now, but the weather is ideal, warm but not humid, and cool enough at night for blankets. Not missing the snow, just sayin.'
After a decent sleep and a great breakfast (as always), we had a relaxed time around the table setting up meetings and laying out the plan for the best use of our time here. It was the perfect combination of just being really glad to be all together in the same room (rare for this Ministry Team), and being all proactive and intentional about the exciting things we hope to cover while we're here. Such a great way to start the day!
A bit more unpacking, some time preparing the lesson part of tonight's even worship time, a badly-needed jet-lag-induced afternoon coma nap, then supper. Then....yay for evening worship!!
Just to go back a bit. The adventures of our getting here I've already described in a Facebook post (25/01/20), so I won't go into the details here. Enough to say that I now know what happens when you miss your connecting flight, and it isn't the catastrophe I'd always imagined. At least it wasn't for us this time. Basically, it amounted to a 5 hour extension of an already very long travel day (Ken estimates about 30 hours door to door), which meant we had to delay our "Yay we're here!' first night together at evening worship" hooplah by one day.
But obviously, so worth the wait.
This time out, we did not ask Sponsors for the usual packet. If you're not a Sponsor, what that is, is a standard-sized zipped pouch that can be filled with little treats, similar to how you might stuff a stocking. This provides a very personal way for the Children to connect with their individual Sponsor, especially when it includes little notes and pictures. But it's actually only been 66 days since my last trip, and we do not ever want to over-extend the good graces of our Sponsors.
Not to worry. There was still something special to give to each child for this first night together, thanks to the generosity of two separate not-Sponsors-but-very-supportive friends who provided the funds to allow us to bring a little something.
This broader connection, beyond those who faithfully provide for our kids each month, is equally important to us. And it makes it all happen, to be honest. And also, I really want our children to know that it's large community of love that comes their way. You have to know that for our kids to feel seen and loved and supported is absolutely HUGE when they have already experienced so much that can make anyone wonder about their worth. Tribal discrimination, and loss of a parent due to death or abandonment is part of the story of every one of the little souls God brings to us. These tangible gifts carry so much more meaning than simply just a 'treat.' That they have people half a world away that are sincerely interested in them is nothing short of amazing in their eyes.
There was also an exciting reveal of two brand new puzzles!! Lots of excitement about that!!
After it was all done, we were escorted back to the guest house by the ones eager to carry our bags and Bibles. Quick good night hugs all around, and wishes for sweet dreams.
Lukmee provided hand made bracelets for both Ken and I, all matchy-matchy. Aw.
And now, we are doing our best to stay up until 9 p.m. so to help with the whole 12 hour difference thing. The evening is cooling off, so it should be good for another snuggy blanket night.
I do not take any of this for granted. Every trip brings the wonder that we get to do this with these beautiful humans; that God somehow saw fit to bring me here in the first place, and has kept writing a story I could never have imagined for myself. In fact, it's beyond all I could ever have asked or imagined, sort of like how Ephesians 3:20-21 says it could be.
Tomorrow we head over to the property and get right down into drawing up the building plans and making all the lists of who we need to connect with. Can't wait.
So, happy first day to us!
Grateful.
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