Day 6 - It's not goodbye, it's "I'll see you soon"

And that’s all, folks.  Our journey through Georgetown, Guyana Spring 2014 has come to an end.  (Notice how I said Spring 2014 because they are considering coming back in the fall over fall break and you bet your bottom dollar I will be here.)  This we were able to get an extra hour of sleep (CAN I GET AN AMEN?!).  We started the day with breakfast at the Oasis Café, which is an Americanized lounge-type of café.  Then we made our way to the Red Cross home for children.  This orphanage is mainly newborns and toddlers.  They were precious!! (You all know how much I love the babies.  Unfortunately it’s basically impossible to adopt a child from Guyana from the U.S.)  We were able to drop off some supplies and clothes that Pine Valley UMC was able to donate for them and we played with the children for a little while.  They were filled with happiness with all the attention they were getting.  You can tell they just don’t get personal one-on-one time enough.  Of course it’s hard though, there are only so many caretakers for an orphanage of 30-40 kids.  After we went to Red Cross, we went to the market to shop for some souvenirs.  I BOUGHT A HAMMOCK AND I AM SO EXCITED.  EMILY AND MALIN PREPARE FOR THE BEST EVER HAMMOCK ON THE PORCH.

Once we finished our shopping, we got some lunch, took it back to the hotel, took a quick nap, then made our last stop of the trip – Joshua House.  Joshua House is where the team is used to spending a lot of their time while they’re down here.  Since we had to spend so much time at Hope Home this trip, this was really the only opportunity we had to visit the kids at Joshua House.  We had about an hour with the kids and you wouldn’t believe the excitement that they had.  They remember most of the team from past trips, but us newbies were even climbed on as we got out of the bus – at first they weren’t even letting us out of the bus because they were climbing on to get to us!  They were just so overjoyed!  We gathered around a sang a few songs: “I just wanna be a sheep”, “Jesus Loves Me”, “Lean On Me” (which was a song the children asked to sing), and then the children sang us some songs that they knew!  My camera was taken over by some special girls who were attached to me for a little while and I got some great pictures out of it.  They took me to the side and we had a little photo shoot.  When it was time to leave, they followed us to the van and it probably took 20 minutes from the time we got in the van to actually pull out of the driveway.  They were everywhere.  You know how fans get when it comes to seeing their favorite celebrities?  That’s what it was like.  Now, I didn’t feel like a celebrity, but I just know how special it was for us to be there for them even though it was for a short period of time.  I hope that when we come next time we are able to spend more time there! 

Dinner was held at a local Brazilian restaurant – and it was absolutely delicious.  You know, the type of food where they bring the meat to your table and they cut it onto your plate off of a skewer?  Ahhhhhh man.  I’m hooked.  (Thank goodness it didn’t end up like the scene in Bridesmaids, though.  We discussed that one over dinner – haha!)

Y’all, as much as I’m ready to take a real shower and brush my teeth with sink water again, I just really don’t want to leave.  I’m so torn.  My mom said last night on the phone, “Well, I guess I would be disappointed if you didn’t want to leave because that would mean that you aren’t having a good time.”  She’s so right.  She knows my heart – and it is anywhere that requires a passport.  This place has a piece of my heart now and forever.  We all experienced this trip together as a team, but the personal experiences surpass all that we could’ve ever imagined.  Tomorrow is going to be a long day of traveling.  Pray that we get back home safely with no delays or cancelations for some crazy reason. 

OH! AND HOW ABOUT THAT WOLFPACK WIN TONIGHT?!?  We streamed the game yet again from my laptop here at the hotel – while missing a few plays here and there because of the slow internet speed!  At dinner Miles was allowing us to use his few data megs to get updates while we were away from wifi.  We are some dedicated fans – you know Ms. Wuf can’t miss a game!  Thanks for all the blog views this week!!!  It means so much to see so many people reading and enjoying it!  I love all of you!  Goodnight from Guyana for the last time.

 This is Saint Georges Cathedral - the tallest wood structure in the world.  It is absolutely beautiful!!

 Enjoying his playful glasses!

 Singing one of their songs for us!

 Such beautiful girls - even though some had their eyes shut!

 Some of the photo shoot.

 These were my photo shoot girls!

 Lauren and some of the kiddos

She wanted to keep my nametag.

I let Andrea keep my hat!

Day 5 - It Is Finished!

IT IS FINISHED!  The playground was completed today.  After 4 full days of constructing a playground from the ground up, we were able to watch the children play on it this afternoon literally 5 minutes after screwing in the last screw.  I have never experienced such joy and happiness in my life!  These children have lived their entire lives behind the walls of this orphanage, which is an amazing place, but they don't have the opportunity to just be kids 100% of the time because of helping with so much around the orphanage.  The only thing on these kids' minds today was trying to see who could slide down the slide first or who could climb up the rope ladder the fastest.  It's a memorable moment to see someone enjoying something to that extent that you helped build with your own two hands.

Us newbies on the team have had the chance to meet and talk to many of the children and teenagers at Hope Home this week and get to know them in similar ways that the rest of the team knows them.  These children are majority handicap, like I have discussed in a recent post.  One of the moments that stuck out the most today was watching a child named Carl ride down the slide.  I was busy taking pictures of all of the children playing with their new equipment and noticed Tony and Tim carrying Carl, a boy who uses a walker and crawls to get everywhere he goes, onto the top of the slide to slide down for the first time in his life.  All he needed was for someone to help him to the top, and he had it from there.  In all 432184683109 pictures that I took of that moment (not really, but for those of you who know me and how many pictures I take it felt like that many) he had the LARGEST grin I have EVER seen on someone.  You could see both sets of teeth on that boy.  He was having the time of his life.  When he got to the bottom Tony asked in the midst of all the laughter and celebration, "again?".  Carl screamed, "AGAIN! AGAIN!".  There wasn't a dry eye around.  Tony helped him back to the top and Carl slid right down again.  Then Tony, Tim and Lauren helped him over to the swings.  They were extremely touched by being a part of his special experience today, but I know that they weren't nearly as touched as he was.  They were literally the body of Christ for Carl today - helping him be a normal kid for just a few minutes.  It was truly an unforgettable experience.  Saying goodbye today wasn't easy, but it had to happen.  We can't stay here forever, but our hearts can.

After we left Hope for the last time, we came back to the hotel for a quick shower then headed to Ruimveldt Children's Home which is a home for children living with HIV/AIDS.  We weren't able to stay for very long, but we enjoyed every minute of it!  We left two footlockers worth of supplies for them and one of the caretakers Jenny was so thankful!  These kids were so wonderful and in the twenty/thirty minutes that we were there, it seemed as if we had been there all week just like Hope Home.  It's amazing when you work within God's Kingdom with those who love him because when you're all around each other, it doesn't matter if you have met before or not.  You all share that special love and that brings you together - once again, my brothers and sisters in Christ.

We ended the night with a sub from Quiznos and watching our Wolfpack beat Miami!!!!! GO PACK!!

Thank you SO much everyone for the prayers this week.  We have felt them.  We have seen them at work.  Continue these last two days to pray for safe travels and God's grace upon our journey home.  Tomorrow we will begin with breakfast, shopping, a visit at the Red Cross orphanage, and lastly a stop at Joshua's House.  Oh, and you better believe another Wolfpack win tomorrow night against Syracuse ;) haha, I hope!  I really can't thank you all enough for your thoughts and prayers over the past 6 days.  I can't wait to come home and share these stories with you.  Goodnight!

 This is how the playground started this morning.  We still can't believe we finished it all today!!

 Digging holes.

 Beginning the bridge. (You can also see Tony's design of the roof here on platform #1.  We are referring to his roof design as the Duck Dynasty design. haha)

 Andy and the "ratchet girl".

 Working more on the bridge.

 Coming along! (And this is Miles' roof.  Good job Miles!)

 Pastor Tim...he's been working hard, y'all!

 Tony and Zahir playing around.

 Lauren, Miles, and I!

 Joel - we think he looks so much like John Henson.

 and Kellon!  So stinkin' cute.

 GO PACK.

 Kellon again.

 Starting to enjoy the playground!

Team picture after completion.

 With the kiddos!

 And wah-lah.

There were smiles for days!

 This is Carl and Tony!

 What did I say?  Isn't this the biggest smile you've ever seen?!

One of the greatest moments I've ever witnessed.

 It speaks for itself.  They love it - and we loved building it.

 

Day 4 - Hope Home and Revival

Hey everyone - gosh it's so late...let me just tell you, today has been one to remember!  We woke up for devotion again ready to start the day and unfortunately, I had probably the worst dream of my life last night.  I think it was because of my malaria medicine - it makes you dream and hallucinate and boy, did I hallucinate last night. But anyways, we ate breakfast, got in the van, and rode to Hope Home to continue our construction on the playground.  Pat spent the day with B and Maurice so Lauren and I took over her VBS lesson and crafts.  We helped a little on the playground when we were finished but today we could only work until 1:00 because we were having to leave the hotel for dinner by 4.  We left the hotel at 4:00 to go back to Grace's house in Stanleyville which is where we had breakfast on Sunday morning.  She had a wonderful meal prepared for us - including some BBQ Chicken!  After dinner, we went outside and played with their new puppy and watched a gorgeous sunset set behind the palm trees across the field.  I am so envious of their everyday view of those sunsets - but North Carolina sunsets are pretty awesome too :)

Tonight we had the privilege of hearing God's word from Pastor Tim - in a revival-like way.  I had only heard him preach one other time and that was on our commission Sunday which was the Sunday before we left for our trip.  That Sunday I told him how much I enjoyed his message and really meant it - he was a great speaker.  But tonight, holy moly.  That man can bring it, haha!  Clement asked Pat and I two days ago if we would share our testimonies during the service and of course I replied, "yes!" without hesitation.  However, this afternoon leading up to it I was a little rattled about it.  I always think that a testimony has to be a by-the-book story of your life being completely transformed by Jesus in a particular way or situation.  Honestly, I've never really had that considering the fact that I've grown up in the church so I've always been surrounded by it all.  But, Tony and Pastor Tim helped me in such a powerful way that I knew I had to share.  There's never a wrong thing you can say when you talk about God.  Pat reminded me of that in the van on the way to church tonight.  It's so true.  There is never one thing that you can say that's wrong when talking about YOUR story and what God is doing in your life.  Anyways, I shared a short and sweet story about what God's been doing in my life here lately and I was at peace with it.  There was much more that I could have talked about, but sometimes short and sweet is all it takes for you to touch someone, and be touched yourself.  The service was filled with endless celebration and song.  I don't understand why we sometimes have to travel to these countries to get those feelings.  Why can't we have more nights like that back in the states?  And why can't we have more faith-based conversations on a daily basis back in the states like we do on these trips?  Yes, it's a mission trip so you're expected to talk about Jesus, but seriously - could you imagine if every breakfast, lunch break, dinner, van ride, talk before bed, and time in the morning was spent just talking about God?  Our lives would be so different.  And it's so easy for me to be saying this while I'm here and away from reality, but I'll tell you one thing, reality is going to hit me like a brick wall when I get home.  The last thing I want to do right now is go home to that materialistic society that I already struggle with.

I just wish you all could've been there during the service tonight.  Despite all the dance moves strictly from fighting off huge beetles, it was a service I will never forget.  Worshiping with my brothers and sisters in Christ who help to make up the body.

If you could, please pray from all of us to get some rest.  I specifically, haven't slept good the past two nights, especially last night.  I really need some good sleep.  Just pray for rest for our team so we can have enough energy to complete the rest of our week to the best of our ability!  We have GOT to finish that playground tomorrow!

Here are some more pictures from today!  Enjoy!  Goodnight, y'all.

 Does your chain hang low?

Finished the rock wall today on the far side, got some swings up, got a roof and tarp up too!

 Deshawn, Angel, Isaiah, and Kevin

 Isaiah having fun with my shades and Lauren's hat!

 Straight from my camera!

 The puppy.....ahhhh she's so cute.

 Tony, me and Caitlin before church!

 Pastor Tim - who knew he had such a talent for the piano and singing?!

 The only non-blurry picture that Lauren was able to get of me while sharing during the service tonight.  Thanks girl!

Pat sharing her story - so moving.  Thank you so much for sharing, Pat.

Day 3

The end of day 3...already.  It's been an interesting and emotional day from the beginning for me, and I know it' not going to be the first before I leave.  Wake up call at 6:30am - turned into not getting out of bed until 6:58am to be on the balcony for devotion by 7am (which is normal for Lauren and I).  On the way to  Hope Home today I was sitting in the backseat between Caitlin and Pastor Tim.  We got to talking about something, I think my major, and Pastor Tim looked and me and I knew exactly...exactly...what he was going to say.  "You know, I believe that God has His hand on you.  I was telling Tony, God has very special plans for you...and if you ever need me to talk I'm here." ---------- honored, yet terrified, yet speechless, yet nervous, and lastly - blessed.  If I had a nickel for every time a Pastor of mine has told me that...  Including one that told me something similar to this the night before I came on the trip.  God definitely is working within my life, but man, that just gives me feelings that I don't even know how to describe.  All I can say is, "Thank you so much - and we will see where this all leads me!", but sometimes I wish I had another response.  Emotion overflow...

At Hope Home today we continued our construction work.  We had a few stressful moments that set us a little behind, but it all worked out in the end.  With all of our teamwork we were able to get a lot of the heavy lifting done and most of the structure finished!  Caitlin and Katy worked on the mural again today - as if yesterday wasn't enough, today it's looking even better.  Pastor Tim and Tony worked inside today sanding, priming, and painting the floor of the boy's dorm.  Pat worked with the preschoolers with some more VBS and crafts!  Lauren, for those of you who don't know, is majoring in social work.  She brought down worksheets for the caretakers here at Hope Home to work with them on ways they can improve the structure and discipline within the orphanage.  It made me tear up listening to her talk to these caretakers because it's so incredibly clear that she's in the right major.  I'm just really proud of her and the work she's doing and will do in the years to come.  We were also given the opportunity to talk to the older/teenage girls when they were home from school during their lunch break.  I let Lauren do majority of the talking because she had a written plan for the discussion.  It was a great time to discuss teenage girl things with the group and reminisce through my early/mid teenage years.  Those girls are beautiful and they have so much going for them.  I hope to come back one day and see them again.

Dinner tonight was held at JR's - a burger joint here in town.  It was a little taste of America.  Then we went to get some ice cream - banana vanilla to be exact.  I'm really going to start craving that in the states!  We have been back at the hotel for about 3 hours now.  Pastor Tim and Tony have been hanging out with Miles, Lauren and I for the past few nights so they can get into our stash of candy (which is now basically gone!).  Seriously, some of the funniest people I know.  So many great memories have already occurred on this trip and I know we have a ton more to go!  We ended our night with a group prayer around me and Lauren's room.  I'm just so thankful for this team.  

The quote of the night from Pastor Tim - "If y'all see that herd of donkeys go into the ocean, then you know we've done something wrong." (It's a long, long story but it's a funny one!)

Lastly, SHOUT OUT TO MY BOY TJ WARREN FOR RECEIVING ACC PLAYER OF THE YEAR! GOOOO PAAAACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK and also to my baby kitty, Zoe!  She was spayed and declawed today.  Bless her...I'm so sorry baby girl!

Once again, there are plenty of pictures to show you a little bit of our day!  Goodnight, guys!

 Starting work this morning!

 Gettin' it...

 Andy telling us what to do.

 Always playing around on the job..

 Left to Right - Sam, Tony, Pastor Tim, and Nazar working on the boy's dorm floor

 Digging the holes for the swingset

 Mile's handy-dandy calculations when figuring out the angles for the swing set today.  Gotta love those NC State students, Tony and Pastor Tim! ;)

 The mural.  Enough said.

 Pastor Tim, Nazar, and Tony got to know each other and each other's stories very well today!

 Sunset on the sea wall.

 Miles, Lauren and I

 Teamwork was vital for this piece of wood! SO heavy!

Of course if I had the chance to wear these, y'all know I would.  And I definitely did. GO PACK.