....children that really had all the "right" to not have anything to be happy about, sang and clapped and moved to the beat of their drums, till we all couldn't help but start tapping, clapping & singing with the music! Seriously, it was so amazing!! I wish so bad I could have videotaped them singing but, understandably, we weren't allowed to take pictures of the residents.
Despite being either mentally or physically impaired, they sang with all their heart! Gnarled, twisted hands shook rattles to keep time and, even though many couldn't walk, they beat their skin drums with gusto! They may have been off key, but that didn't stop them from singing enthusiastically!
A sweet, young girl with Down Syndrome, endeared herself to us all through her ever present smile and quick hugs! You simply couldn't help but fall in love with her!
If you want goosebumps, try singing "I want us to be together in Heaven..." with a group like this. Many times when we sing this song, I sadly think that, unless there is a drastic life change in some of these people's lives, that won't be a reality. But, for this group, it was so exciting!
Yes, they sat there with drool dripping off their chin, making random guttural noises and rhythmically rocking back and forth. Many of them were confined to chairs with useless limbs. Some were not able to see the beauties of this earth, and others were stuck with the mental capacity of a small child. BUT, one day that will change for them!
Useless limbs will be transformed as they run with abandon through aromatic fields of clover. Eyes, that never saw the light of day, will gaze in awe at splendor-filled mansions. Wheel chairs will be nonexistent as they hop and skip merrily down the streets of gold. Snotty noses and drool will be replaced with a heightened sense of smell as they stoop to smell the colorful fragrant flowers. And that river! So much fun to splash and play in!
They are the innocent among us, and will remain that way, till someday....they will run down those golden streets shouting...."IT'S ALL OURS!!!"
I want us to be together in Heaven,
I want to walk down the streets of pure gold,
I want to run through the fields of green clover,
See the mansions,
Smell the flowers,
Hear the singing, "It's all ours!!"
See the river gently flowing,
Feel the gentle breezes blowing,
I want us to be together in Heaven!!
leaders and we had a great week reconnecting with them again!
Back row: Kendalyn Martin, Weston Shirk, Marilyn Martin, Jeremy Martin, Kendall Nolt, Kristi Zimmerman & Austin Weaver Front row: Marlisa Shirk, Stacy Horst & Jana Good
girls and 2 guys to help with kitchen duty...a group of 16 can make alot of
dirty dishes, but with many hands it can make the work light!...and fun:)
Lillian's house. The previous group had started it but there were still
some rooms to finish. They are beyond pleased with their "new" blue house!
on everyone she meets. Someday I'm gonna write a book
(or at least a blog post) about what all she's taught me....
are bare unpainted concrete. They have no electric and very few necessities.
requests prayer for him that he could break free from his cocaine addiction.
again for all their hard work! She couldn't get done thanking them!:)
You will be viewing Grenada through the eyes of our visitors
since I used quite a few pictures from their camera cards.
to bite into a juicy burger? Especially one that's cooked rare, with the
red juices flowing....(this is why I ALWAYS want mine well done)
monkey was waiting for us, instead of us spending alot of time calling them and
trying to coax them out the trees for a banana. They formed a line, then held a
banana just out of its reach, so it had to travel over all their heads to get to the
last person. Oh the joy of stinky monkey feet in your hair.....or maybe the thrill
was more in the novelty:)
picturesque points, surrounded by the crashing waves of the ocean.
Caribbean Sea before heading out on its next fishing expedition....
I can't imagine staring at the same wall for ten years. With the proper medical equipment, I am sure she could be gotten out of bed and be mobile with an electric scooter. She said back when they had a male nurse, he would lift her out of bed sometimes, but he doesn't work there anymore and no one else can lift her out. How badly I wanted to have access to an Arjo lift to get her out of bed and take her for a wheelchair ride out in the fresh air! She seemed so resigned and accepting of her lot in life though.
hot tub in this hollowed out space in the rock....or in this case, a cold tub...
pressure from this waterfall should clean you off good....
And what do you do when it's raining, you're in a time crunch and 6 girlsneed to wash their hair? Take advantage of the atmosphere's shower, of
course!:) Carter was more than happy to lend a helping hand!
(Although, I'm sure he wouldn't have minded missing out:))
Yes, that's my wash hanging in the rain.....thanks to a few
sporadic rain showers, it's been hanging there for a few days.
two decks of cards...thank you!:)) The guys played many games of Rook.....
kind enough to consent to taking charge of this week's chapel, which Chris greatly appreciated!
Story and sing with the children. They have lots of energy and have a hard time sitting
still! They are so cute though, and always want a big squeeze before we leave!
to peel a bread fruit for an upcoming pot of oil down.
to cut up all the vegetables for this pot, but many hands make the work light!
rebuilding it at another. Chris was very glad for their help because what
would have taken him days of labor, was done in a matter of hours.
of paper plates and cotton balls. Here Jana Good is teaching K and 1rst grade.
the community children, as a way to interact and get to know them better.
Someone needs to mow this playing field...although usually
"mowing" around here is done with a weed-eater.
to dig the book out of the stack and read it to the spell bound crowd....
After an amazing 8 days with this group, they headed back to the frozen tundra, from whence they came. What a great time reconnecting with them again! We were blessed with an amazing group of youth when we were youth leaders and they will remain our friends forever! We can have a great fun time and also many serious talks. When I look back to 4 years ago, when the scary question was asked, that left us quivering in our shoes...."Will you serve as youth leaders?"....it looked so scary. And overwhelming. And quite the commitment. And yes, it wasn't all sunshine and roses....and yes, we did miss out on alot of fun activities with our friends, and yes, it was a huge commitment...but I am so thankful we said yes.
does she expect another sister someday or what???!!!!:()
This was a very exciting evening at our little Laborie Church! Shivoni, age 17, has counted the cost and committed her life to following Jesus. Before being baptized, she shared her moving testimony. She accepted Jesus at a one night crusade, rededicated her life later at a crusade, and has been an inspiration and witness to many. With tears shimmering in her eyes, she shared about the opposition she's endured at school and from those close to her. Shivani stands alone in her family and is going to college. She faces questions, opposition, and ridicule. Yet at the end of her testimony she declared, "I've decided to follow Jesus, and I will NEVER TURN BACK!"
