DR Congo Day 19

Kid's Playing

August 12

Today I woke up and thought to myself “We’re going home!” even though I knew we weren’t. It was hard getting up, because I didn’t know what to do look forward to. I was so over moving bricks and having kids tug at me, but with that mentality of course I would have a bad day. So I told myself to stop, and that God wants me here. All night and all morning our team was having God moments. Jacob said how he would unintentionally tell people “”As of now we would be coming back on the 13th.” I realized I would always say how our trip is two and a half weeks not three, because technically we weren’t coming back on Saturday. Sam noticed that her friend wrote her a letter to read on her plane ride back and dated it August 16th instead of August 12th. Perry Ann accidentally reread a chapter in the Bible, which she read a few days ago, that said, “We don’t know what city we’ll be in tomorrow, but God is in control.” All these God moments made us think how silly God works. Clearly we were meant to be here.

It was a nice and easy day, because we truthfully didn’t do much. What we did though was a struggle. All the kids were in a room and we expected the pastor to lead games or activities, but there were no games or activities. So last minute I was asked to lead the kids. I have no idea why Baba Deron asked me of all people, but he did and I loved it. I had the opportunity to teach the kids phrases in English, numbers in English, and even colors. We sang songs and even taught them a few songs as well. Then after a while it got crazy, and Pastor Adolf asked if I could share some Bible stories. Had this been asked of me last year I would have said absolutely no and panicked, but at that moment I knew exactly what to do.

Ten weeks in Hawaii prepared me to speak in front of children. I’m was so excited to use my Hawaii experience and what I learned from it to preach in front of kids in Africa. I taught them about love and what the Bible says about love in 1st Corinthians 13:4-8. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, it always persevere.” Clearly my lessons on love didn’t end at VBS in Hawaii, but it’s something that I carried on with me to Africa and will continue to teach in the future.

Seeing my two experiences intertwine warmed my heart. More and more I’m processing how I can take what I’ve learned and apply it to life back in San Francisco or San Diego. I might not have the same people or same settings, but I can definitely take what I’ve learned and put it into practice wherever God takes me