Tuesday, March 26 Kind Hearts, Parables, Crafts and more! by Joey

This trip has been such a joy to lead! I think I might say this every year...but we have had such a joyous time together--I'm so glad God put the perfect group together to go through this journey together!

Today we served at the Kind Hearts Care point. Our goal for the day was to simply spend time with the kids. Grace Dahlgren held a hand washing class, and so many kids could not wait to take their turn to wash their hands-with SOAP!-under the clean water well. It felt like a mini field trip. It's the little things that make us pause and smile at their precious joy at something we take for granted. 

 Tyler Davison, Sarah Gregory, Madison Nigus, Caleb Dahlgren, Tim Chester, Morgan Brand and Logan Morrison re-enacted the parable of the Good Samaritan as Rick Randleman (youth pastor of Central Christian Church) told the story to the kids. We have been so touched to share a few stories with the children about God's love for them. We also were able to sing "I Love You Lord" and "Amazing Grace" to the children. We don't want to miss an opportunity to let them know how much God loves them!

Grace Dahlgren also had the chance to pull some of the ladies who work at Kind Hearts aside and give them a special "Women's Hygiene" packet. To not be too graphic, many Ethiopian women are unable to find what we in America take for granted (Tampax, Kotex) and often use anything available (example: sticks, grass, rocks, etc..) during their monthly cycle. Many women in St.Joseph pitched in to help create a kit that includes a flannel pad that is washable and discreet all while being packaged in a pretty bag. To say they were excited and ecstatic was an understatement. Lanette Bocquin, who was on the 2012 team, helped create "Days for Girls" kits for students to use as well. We were so happy to share this gift with them. Grace named this project "Common Threads..." It was a perfect name for the project!

I have been thinking so much about what the pastor at Beza International Church shared during his sermon on Palm Sunday...he said, "God doesn't look at the outside. He looks inside to see the blood of Jesus in you. We are all ONE BLOOD. All of us will be together one day in heaven...ONE BLOOD."

That's the only way I can describe how the group feels about the kids at Kind Hearts...we are ONE BLOOD. There is a sense of relationship, kinship, friendship and love that really can't be explained. Many tears were shed when we left today. I finally got to hear the words from our sponsor child Hyder..."I love you." Oh the joy...pure joy. I've loved you a long time, buddy. See you next year...

 

Joey and her sponsor child Hyder

by Joey Austin