I am so excited I don't know how I will sleep tonight. We will be on a plane heading to Angola in less than 12 hours! We met tonight to do our final packing. We are taking many supplies with us and had to do a bit of re-arranging to keep all the bags under 50 lbs. Eric commented that while he is usually good at packing, it was more difficult to pack such an unusual assortment of things. We will have 15 or 16 bags to check, one carry-on each and one "personal item" each. Don't you love airline speak.
We have color copies of bible stories to read, coloring pages, crayons, pencils, markers, snacks and drink mixes, jump ropes and soccer balls, craft sticks, glue, glitter, buttons and many, many beads. We are expecting about 60+ kids for 2 afternoons of Vacation Bible School. I have to admit that many days I think I learn more from teaching Sunday School and seeing the faith that kids have so I am very excited for our VBS.
We are also looking forward to working with the older boys at the school to improve the old parsonage in which they are living. Painting, installing screen, wiring lighting are just a few of the tasks we may do. Saws, screen, paint brushes and trays, tap-cons, wire cutters/strippers, and of course, duct tape are just a few of the things we have packed.
We have also received many donated items we are taking including medicines, vitamins, sheet sets, and clothing. We have some suit coats for Leonardo, the missionary at Quessua as well as material that they will use for the communion table and pulpit in the church. Oh, and speaking of the church...we get to worship with our brothers and sisters there 2 Sundays! Perhaps by the 2nd Sunday we will be able to understand a little of what is said in Portuguese but it is good to know that whatever language we speak, God hears even those thoughts we do not speak.
So, say (or think) a prayer for all of us; Vaughan, Delaney, Eric, Tracey, Mike, Iris, Chris and Kim, for those who will be interpreting and assisting us and for all our brothers and sisters in Quessua. We will try to update while we are there but if not...we will be sure to update when we get back stateside.
Well, I apparently cant post a new blog on this but I can comment....On Saturday I wrote this to add but havent had a chance so will try here.
ReplyDeleteOur trip was full of one delay after another. The flight from Tampa left 2 hours late but we had a long layover scheduled in Washington, DC It was evern longer when our plane in DC had mechanical problems. We thought we would miss our flight from Brussels to Angola but made it just in time. We lost one bag so spent extra time at the airport in Luanda to arrange for it to be picked up on Sunday...when it should be there.
Today Vaughan and Iris went shopping in Melanje with Leonardo, Cleivy and Xica Vessa. The rest of us made trees (sort of) and set up for VBS. We had plans and did very little the way we planned - no surpiste there. The kids all had a great time and so did we! We did the storey of Zaccheus, read the story, sang the song, colored a picture and also played some games and then took each child~s picture. We are printing them tonight and will give each child a picture tomorrow at our 2nd day of VBS. Tomorrow~s story is about Bartemaeus and we have made up a song to go with it.