Day 2 of our trip began by worshiping at the First Baptist Church of Orlando.  It is a church of 10,000 and the service was very inspiring and impressive. Of course, we had to stop at the Starbucks Coffee Shop IN THE CHURCH BUILDING, before the service!

After lunch we went to GKTW Village and began an evening shift of serving dinner in the Gingerbread House to more than 300 people. Everyone worked together well and it went quite smoothly.  We had the chance to talk with many children and families. It was a blessing. 

Many of our group is working a double-shift on Monday.

Here are some photos from yesterday:

Our trip to Give Kids the World Village began Friday afternoon, by picking up our group at several different airports, getting groceries and checking into our two rented homes. The last of our group of 16 arrived Saturday morning and following a "team meeting" to review our responsibilities, we started work as GKTW volunteers.

Most of our group was involved in a Birthday Party Celebration for Mayor Clayton (a big rabbit character who is a favorite of the kids on campus.) Some worked at the pool, and others doing face painting or delivering cookies.

Pool area 

Claire at children's theater

Nan and Karin on tour before starting work

Because some volunteers (not from Emmanuel) were involved in a minor car accident and were not able to be there, two of us were moved to the Ice Cream Shop to work all evening (which has been my dream!).  I made more than 30 banana splits along with sundaes and cones (and I didn't have a bite of ice cream)!  

We got back to our homes about 10:15 p.m.  Today we are attending a large church together and then will spend the afternoon and evening serving as a whole group in the Gingerbread House (where the meals are served to the children and their families).  I promise more pictures tomorrow!

Dave Endsley and Pastor Denny serving ice cream!

Absorbing it all

So many times, we speed through our days and fail to reflect on what has happened.  We move on to the next day, the next thing, or the next task.  Thursday was a day to step back and absorb our experiences.  Beginning our day by visiting the 3 homes we put new roofs on, our next stop was one that took our breaths away.  As we walked out through an opening in the trees, we were in awe of the beauty here.  This wasn't the first beauty, just a different one.  

 

Every one of us have been touched by this place and the people here and so many moments are now etched in us.  Last night, during our team discussion, our biggest frustration is our inability to really communicate.  All of us have the deep desire to connect with those we interacted with this week.  We need to take our frustrations and praise God for them because those are moments that reveal our passion to advance His work.  

Our week is coming to and end.  We had the chance to provide eye and medical exams and watch the blessings that resulted from those.  Grateful for the opportunity to be a part of LSM's vision, we commended the staff here on their ability to show others their plan.  Ed Schwartz, the LSM president corrected us all by saying, "It's not LSM's vision, it's now 'our' vision."   

As we return, we will receive our team T-shirts.  On the back of those shirts reads a statement that so accurately reveals the heart of LSM ... "It's all about family". 

Our second day of eye and medical exams was amazing!  We were able to exam 80 adults and children!  These pictures speak for themselves don't they?

With our work being accomplished, tomorrow we plan to visit the 3 families that we replaced the roofs for, stop by Rainbow Beach, hang out with the kids at the CRP homes, and finish up with our final visit to our girls at Caviallon. 

Today was busy one but an amazing one!  Not only did we finish up the roof replacement on the third home, but we also completed eye and medical exams for 85 adults and children!  Brad (above) had the opportunity to learn a new construction technique ... cutting steel sheeting with a machete.  

 As I mentioned before, our team provided the first eye and medical exams for many of the parents and children of the LSM homes.  Sandy was leading the optometry team through the examination, evaluation, and frame fitting stages ... not a small task! 

Before the eye exams happened, each child was given a medical examination, recording information for each child and also noting follow up suggestions.  Every parent, boy and girl will now have a medical record that will aid in continued personal development plans.  All the nurses did an amazing job! 

The team wasn't interested in conducting exams and merely moving kids through by the numbers.  They wanted to connect with these families and jump into their lives to show them that we do care, we want to know them, and desire to share the love from our team, our church and LSM.  Our activities team played a huge part in doing that!  We were not only smothered with smiles but also some tears, all of which Julie was glad to help wipe away.  Sara was able to teach the best way to make a "fish face".  Priceless moments.

Tomorrow,  the entire team will be a part of the eye and medical exams for the remaining LSM parents and kids.  It will be another busy one but we are all honored to be a part of some amazing steps LSM is taking moving forward!

With 14 Homes of Hope now established, we all wanted a peak at the plan for the kids once they graduate and prepare to take the next steps in life.  This morning, we had the opportunity to see how the LSM ranch will help guide these steps for many of the students.  Aquaculture, beef, goat, citrus, and crop production vocational trainings are all gaining momentum in their development.  Along with production, the students of the LSM ranch will have the opportunity to learn other trades such as meat processing, welding, and carpentry.  And those are just the starters.  The amazing part is that this ranch will be fully self sufficient utilizing solar energy, renewable animal feed sources and natural fertilizers from the aquaculture and animal production.  We were amazed at the plan this ministry has looking forward!

In the afternoon, the team split up.  The ladies went back to the our Cavaillon home with some cool activities, one being the pillow making activity.  The end product was definitely approved.  The guys dug into a couple of roof projects working with some men in the community to replace a few thatch covered roofs with new steel. 

We all have a huge day tomorrow as we continue the work on the roofing projects as well as our first day of eye and medical exams.  It's a blessing to watch this come together!  Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers as we continue to be a part of an amazing ministry that ECC has partnered with for the long run!

We wouldn't have changed a thing today.  After church, we visited the two Homes of Hope in Banbou, returned to the guesthouse for lunch and then joined forces with the locals to remove the LSM van from the river.  Nothing out of the ordinary here.  Once we were back on the trail, we took advantage of our day at Caviallon with the girls.  Nancy quickly realized that you NEVER pass on a chance to help a girl this adorable with her cream soda!  

Each home that we visit greets us with hugs and kisses and we quickly accept every one of them.  At first, it catches one off guard then after a few grins, you are hooked.  With each home we visit, we are gaining a better understanding of LSM's impact here.  In the CRP boy's home, the 12 boys have only been together for 2 weeks.  Each boy has a story that has lead him into his new family.  How does this work? As believers, we need to understand that nothing brings peace and stability to a child more than the impact of a strong marriage.  Each home is lead by a couple, mentored and empowered by the local church, while walking right beside LSM.     

 

 On Monday, we will begin our day at the ranch to see how LSM is continuing their work with these families by educating and training the older children once they reach the age to leave home.  From learning trade skills, the pursuit of a higher education and business development, LSM carries out the plan to invest in the lives of these future leaders in their communities.  After our time at the ranch, we will finish our day at Cavaillon.  The ladies will be working with the girls at our home and the guys will begin the work to re roof homes in the community.