Tuesday was full indeed, there is much to share. We began our day with another hike. This was a much more rigorous jaunt. We drove for about twenty minutes to get above the tree line and then parked at the base of Flat Top Mountain. We didn’t have time for Flat Top, but we were able to climb Blueberry Hill…it was a thrill. Monday’s hike was horizontal, Tuesday’s hike was vertical, but so worth it. We were surrounded by green, the valleys that were before us were a beautiful canvas. And we could see the city. Below us were most of the population of the entire state. It was an opportunity to grasp what we were on mission to do. God has called us to share his truth with those people.
A Moosing update. We had tried unsuccessfully on Monday to find some Moose, but the size of our group…..and our volume….deterred any sightings. We found our yesterday that another group went to the same park AND SAW FIVE. It was hard to be gracious. We will continue to search, we may have to go to the zoo, or a taxidermist.
After we we returned we quickly changed and got ready for Chapel. We were very blessed that on this day we led the worship. We began with some corporate worship focusing on missions. The students shared some scriptures, sang, and then presented our drama Life and Death. As always is was powerful, and well received. It was incredible to see them lead so well..
We then went to our designated parks to lead VBS. I reminded the students to make connections and learn their narrative.
Two-thirds of our group hosted and helped with Park Parties while the other group had a night off. We will switch duties tonight. Our Park Party was certainly a challenge. When we left for the park it was drizzling, and when we got there it was raining. And it didn’t stop. What was amazing was that the children came. Not all of them to be sure, but some came, and wanted to play. It was a challenge to set up and clean up in the rain, but our team did a tremendous job.
I will confess that I was discouraged when we got back to the church. I was wet and cold. We changed and met in the Sanctuary to have our evening devotional, and I was praying that God would change my attitude, so I didn’t share it with them. Our devotional was led by Emma Brown, and it was incredible. She talked about focusing on God’s voice so the other “stuff” is drowned out. It was a tremendous blessing. But it didn’t stop there. I asked them to share what stories they had learned, and they did. They talked about four foster children who came to the park for the first time yesterday. They were undersized for their ages, but very loving towards each other. They talked about sensing the Lord asking them to speak, or to listen to a baby crying. They talked about a girl that spent her birthday in the park with these strangers. But being sensitive to the Spirit and the needs of this girl, our students got a cake for her and celebrated her birthday with style.
I continued to to challenge them last night to love first. The time they take to learn about these kids will pave the way for tender hearts when the Gospel is presented. Please continue to pray that we are obedient to the Spirit’s leading when we are in these moments.