WOW! is the only thing to say about yesterday. Several of us participated in a school parade with the younger kids in the morning and then rushed back just in time for our morning Bible school. We had a small group of around 15 kids and enjoyed our Bible lesson and video, water color painting, and a few rounds of musical chairs. Just as we were wrapping up lunch with those children our Foundation kids and some little ones from the neighborhood came home and we spent time reading books (bi-lingual books are such a blessing--my favorite with The Little Mermaid which put a BIG smile on Alejandra's face. And then the afternoon....we were overwelmed as truckloads of kids showed up still in their school uniforms and we ran out of food for lunch! It was chaotic to say the least, but we managed to feed everyone eventually and were blessed with the appearance of Pastor Ed Auger of Lutheran World Missions and his Honduran mentee Tulio. It was a blessing in the chaos to have another Spanish/English speaker as we "punted" a bit. By the time we began the Bible video and lesson we had a full chapel. Our sign in sheets reflect a total of 211 children and adults total! AMAZING...and a little scary since we planned and packed for 100! But we are getting creative and keeping the number one rule--be flexible.
This is my fourth trip here. It is amazing to watch how these kids have changed and grown and how the CLF has grown and changed as well. It is fun to know all of their names and be able to help others learn. Every time I come I fall in love with them all over again. In many ways they are just like American kids...they like to play tag and giggle and color and snuggle up to read books. And yet their is something different. Maybe it's because they are a family...a family of 22 kids who take care of one another, eat together, pray together, and sing together...and when we come here they welcome us into that family with hugs and kisses and joy. They call us Aunt and Uncle and invite us to stand in the mealtime and prayer time circle to pray.
Please pray for us today. The numbers are exciting but we don't want them to get in the way of being effective.
Leah
PS Hi Ella & Addy from Aunt Colleen, Uncle Scott, & Aunt Leah!
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Leah Abel
Dir of Christian Education
St. Luke's Lutheran Church & School
Oviedo, FL
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