Trash & TREASURE in the Same Day
Day began with a precious time of prayer with a couple of brothers & then breakfast. It was pancake day and they were delicious, I enjoyed mine with some mango peach yogurt and honey nut cheerios.
We had the opportunity to hit the streets in the community surrounding the church and pick up trash. The team put on their work gloves and got to work. Our first CrossWalk missions team in 2000 was named “ministry monsters” by the missionaries we worked with in Juarez, Mexico because of their glad tenacity to do the tasks asked of them. This team has continued that legacy. Our cargo van was filled with 55 gallon trash bags filled with items that had littered the street. I drove the van to the island’s dump and amid the crows and sea gulls emptied the van.
One of our adult men and a young helper began a construction project this afternoon-building a large shed with one of the men at Cree Gospel who led worship with his wife during the prayer gathering on Monday night.
After lunch we headed to the community center to greet each beloved Treasure of a boy or girl that would attend our second day of VBS. We had over 30 new children attend who were not there for the first day, Bless the LORD! Our words for the day were “Our” & “Sins” and the memory verse Romans 3:23. After the Raise the Praise singing a few students presented a skit that Chris L. used to produce a powerful illustration of Our Sins. After completing the afternoon’s games and crafts the children were seated for snack. While they enjoyed fruit punch, white cheddar popcorn and fruit snacks-each table was called up to our balloon table. At the table there was variety of brightly colored dog shaped balloon creations that Jeremy S. and helpers had made. The children loved walking their balloon dogs out the door.
Once all our VBS guests were picked up we walked over to the island’s Northern store so team members might pick up a drink or snack. A door was opened to minister to patients at Weeneebakyo General Hospital, so after dinner a small team headed there. The team blessed the patients with music, Steve G. made origami creations for the patients, a team of five presented the mime “King of Hearts” and Josh Oestreich shared from the Scriptures.
It was a glorious day but the Best was yet to come. While getting some ice cream, one of the guys on our team invited a group of young men to stop by the church and throw a football around. Please understand that at 9:30pm it’s light outside like it was 6pm back in Philly. Three junior high aged guys accepted the invitation and began asking some questions. This opened the door for the Gospel to be shared and all three of the young men (Nakota, Dallas & Christopher) prayed to receive Christ. Our young men brought them into the church, gave the Chuck Smith NTs, pastor Josh prayed for them and they hung out with their new brothers. Check out the picture of our guys with their three new brothers.
To God be the glory, Great things He has done (& is doing)-so loved he the world that He gave us His Son
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