Friday, August 10, 2012

Best laid plans...

Day 6 Balama/Raymond Town July 24, 2012

Every day presents new challenges just as it produces new joys.  We arrived in the morning only to realize that the soccer tournament we thought was going to start at 4:00 was actually starting at 10:00 with Balama facing Waterfall.  This presented a little challenge.  Upon arrival we had to drive through the game to get up to the school.  We also had to spend some time resetting the classrooms as many of the desks had been taken to the field to be used as bleachers.  All of our challenges could be and were overcome.

The teacher training and women's ministry reportedly went well.  Joanne had some great conversation with some girls who were students at the school, but have withdrawn due to having children.  Hopefully, their conversation will be the catalyst to get them back.  Cathy and Lora had success with the teachers in the morning.  The teachers also came back as requested to help out with VBS in the afternoon.

We had a great day in the village as well.  We were able to talk to Mary (cook shop and small, small things), Koulo (cook shop, vegetables), and another lady who had defaulted after being hospitalized with a miscarriage (middle runner).  We had great conversations with these villagers and are beginning to understand more about the local situation.  This lead to great debrief discussions with Jessy tonight during dinner and at the Crystal Palace.  

The next day promises to be another full one.  We will continue training, discussing, and meeting business people.  I find myself wishing for more intentional time with the children at the orphanage.  They are ever-present at VBS, but that is not a very good small group setting.
Joanne has taken over snacks and uses it as an opportunity to teach proper handwashing techniques
one of the village children


bead bracelet craft

Cathy with Asst. Principle (far right) and one of the teachers

Sharing the Gospel from the back of a SlipDisc Frisbee

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