Catching up on the mission trip so far

My turn to blog. So much has happened since we arrived here 4 days ago after 2 very long days travelling. You can see from the blogs of the team what an adventure it's been. A prayer request I had given people before we left was to pray for smooth flights and all our luggage to arrive safe and sound. The Lord answered both wonderfully.

Another request was for help leading the worship concerts. I had not led worship before and felt very inadequate, which was probably right where I needed to be for the Lord to really work. I had to fully trust the Lord to lead the worship sets. On Saturday at the Comido School as we were having trouble with the equipment, I asked the Lord for help. Help me, Jesus! We had a shakey start, but the Lord came through, and the concert went well. It was a worshipful, Spirit filled time. Then on Sunday we participated at the Kayaba Free Baptist Church. After Sunday an service some of us set up the equipment for our worship concert while others served lunch to the people. I was so glad to play guitar with Bekah, as she started the songs I wasn't confident in. It's been a blast leading worship together as a team. When a djembe wasn't available, Daniel played rhythm on an ice cooler and a microphone. Several of our youth have joined in as vocalists and instrumentalists, and sound wonderful, even making up hand motions to songs and doing them with enthusiasm. It sounded fantastic! The Holy Spirit moved in the church, filling that simple building with the treasures of worship. God is very cool. I also shared my faith story during the concert.

Our theme song is "A New Hallelujia", and people sing it with enthusiasm, especially the 3rd verse. Steven made our song books and our team shirts with a cool design with the song. Very cool.

Today we went to the Made On The Streets Community Center. We participated in a homeless women's bible study, helped care for their children, painted their common area, and visited homeless teenage boys at corner "bases". These youth live on the street corner high on glue, the usual drug because it is cheap, readily available and helps curb their constant hunger. We walked to these bases with Moses, Anthony and Kennedy. Anthony and Kennedy were just like the youth we were visiting, but were saved off the streets by the community center, and now they help get other boys off the street. They have the street smarts to keep us safe as we walked around. It was a privilege getting to know them. As we met the youth, they were very respectful, and introduced themselves to us, and we to them. It took a little getting used to shaking hands or fist bumping them, yet I know that was what I needed to do. I remembered Jesus did not hold back in reaching out to people. He didn't require them to wash their hands or fix their lives before He spent time with them. I was glad to meet them and work with Anthony, Kennedy and Moses. I did wash my hands later. :) Right before we left, our youth taught Anthony and Kennedy Ultimate Ninja, and they had a blast!

Tomorrow will be a full day as we head up to "The Farm" where the boys who are rehabbed off the street are housed, schooled, trained, some for 4 years. We will be putting on another concert, helping with projects, and our youth will put on a drama they have been rehearsing hard on. It will be a great time.

It's been a good mission trip. We've had different opportunities to serve with Mike and Trish Hyodo in different ministries. It's also been good getting to know the team, both the youth and other old folks. God is good, and I look forward to the rest of our time together. I do miss my family very much, and wish they were here with me. Lord willing, Rebecca will make it to Kauai without any problems. Praying so.

Bwana asifiwe! Praise the Lord.

Anna.