Day 5 - One Team . . . 3 Different Places

Our team split up into 3 different groups today to ministry in 3 different places. Here are the perspectives of students from each team:


Kristina V.
Today, about twelve of us got the opportunity to go down to Blossom Garden Children’s Center, an orphanage about 20 minutes from where we were staying. We had a great time playing with the kids and connecting with them. They were infants to age seven and they seemed to really enjoy us being there. Some of us just sat in the shade holding the kids the whole time while others of us pushed them on the swings, ran around with them, or played with toys with them. I’m fairly sure I can speak for all of us when I say leaving the kids to come back was one of the most difficult things that we had done on the trip.

Mike M.
Today, we had the amazing opportunity to take eight kids to the school for the deaf and tile floors in the boys and girls bathroom. We were there from about 10 am until about 5:30 pm working on the floors and caring for three amazing kids. One of those kids, Obrian, was deaf and we quickly had to learn how communicate to him through sign language. As we grew closer to him, we realized that not all of the things he was saying in sign language were English… it was sooooooo awesome playing with the three kids and making them laugh! Another one of the kids, Matthew, was so easily entertained with me as I was going cross-eyed and making funny noises with him. ☺ Children got two toys to take with them. Matthew picked a motorcycle and a small bouncy soccer ball. As I sat with him, it made me realize how much we take everything in life for granted. All he wanted to do was jump the little motorcycle off of the little soccer ball, it was amazing to see that kind of joy in a little kid’s face. We planned on tiling only one room at the school, but we ended up starting on the other bathroom since we were moving so fast. All in all, it was pretty much the most amazing day. But then again, I said that everyday this week so far…

Perry D.
As you may have heard already the first VBS we went to was an amazing experience and a great opportunity to be a witness for the kids. Going to the second VBS left us without an idea of what to expect, but once again God showed up and showed us what it meant to love a group of needy kids. They welcomed us with open arms and I got the chance to sit down with some young boys and tell them about the love of Christ! It was such an amazing experience and the kids actually gave us the love we were supposed to give them! Everyone got back on the bus thankful that they could influence the kids there while being influenced themselves. God led us through every second in that VBS (except for when I played soccer with them, I think he left me alone for that moment . . . LOL).