God helped us! :)

The morning started with breakfast (eggs, sausage, chocolate chip pancakes and oatmeal). After breakfast, we split into two groups. Dan, Mack, James, and Mitch returned to the Head Start program to clean out the storage closet that had the leaking AC (moved toys, old computers, and files). They also distributed 5 lbs of onions to each student's cubby, and found Mardi Gras beads. They worked hard and then joined the other group...

Alison, Mike, Anna, Claire, Amelia, and Jordan went to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church to help with their 4th week of VBS! (check out their website to see some pictures of the church: http://www.gloriadeinola.com). Pastor Greg Manning talked to us about the theme "Giving God all the Glory". Then he told us the importance of "maintaining order" and "preventing absolute chaos" with the 55 or so children that would be coming to the program. Due to attempting to prevent "absolute chaos" we didn't get any pictures...I felt we were successful in preventing ABSOLUTE chaos...it was slightly organized chaos :)

We were all in group #2, which was fifteen 7-10 year old boys and girls. We started by serving breakfast to them, and just getting to know them a little. Then we played a few name games and learned LOTS of new songs with dances (i.e. "Joy"--J is for Jesus, O is for others, Y is for you and you and you and you....jjjjjoy, jjjjjoy, jjjjjoy! and "Who's the King of the jungle? Who, Who? Who's the king of the sea? bubble bubble bubble. Who's the king of the universe and Who's the king of me? I'll tell ya! J-E-S-U-S, YES!"). We made foam picture frames, and enjoyed playing baseball and playing on the playground. :) We watched them practice for the special service, where the kids planned on performing a skit from Daniel chapter 3.

Today was the hardest day of the week, but we did get a lot out of it:
-Alison is thankful for a team that was flexible and willing to try all of our sites! Today was challenging, but everyone did REALLY well!!! :) So proud!
-Anna is thankful for the experience with the kids, because now she'll feel more comfortable if she ever was in that situation again. She also appreciates the Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teachers more :)
-Amelia is sleeping....
-Claire felt that her self-control skills were challenged. She was empathetic towards the children and their situations, which helped her stay calm.
-Dan now appreciates the children we have within our church family.
-James felt that his patience was tested and he developed positive discipline strategies.
-Jordan learned how to be more patient, even when he is being challenged persistently.
-Mack was thankful for the experience, it opened his eyes to just how different cultures can be.
-Mike had a lot of fun singing and dancing with the kids, and he learned how significant positive role models are to a child's development.
-Mitch appreciates that his parents have brought him up knowing what true respect is.

We've had a great week serving in New Orleans! :) We look forward to creating our slide show and sharing it with everyone in a few weeks! Please pray for safe travels for all of us (and that the "standby fliers" get on the same flight as everyone else!) :)

Thank you for all of your prayers and support! We've felt them!!! :) <><