Living Gods way .

meeting with the team at Parkside in Cincinnati

We began this spring trip with a whirlwind of excitement .  As you saw, we had a team from Parkside here to share our first week with .  I can not begin to express how great it was to have them along.  They brought with them so much joy, and excitement, along with the prayers and investment of their entire congregation.   The team was lead by a servants heart, and that carried forward to everything they did and every decision they made. 

Here Lori is giving the kids at Dayspring individual personalized  letters from her class back home .. bringing the personal touch .

When we were planing their time here with us , they said that they wanted to have the opportunity to connect with the people .. many talk about how great it would be to connect, but for myself included , that is difficult some times when nerves and jet leg get in the way .. your mind may say one thing, but your body says another.  

Aaron was quick to join in , full of energy despite the jet leg 

Literally from the moment that this team arrived, every single one of them was full of Joy , peace, gentleness, self control .. They loved the people we love.   and that blessed us.  

Michelle and Tanya instantly became great friends .. what a blessing she was to Tanya 

 Along with the many institutions we visited , they had meaningfull connection with over 70 at risk youth on 3 separate occasions .

 One morning we were talking, and we were discussing James 1:27 which says that pure religion that is pleasing to God is to visit the widows and the orphans in their time of need..  I shared that although I think that in this scripture, the word visit means that we are to bring help, I think that maybe we don't need to read a whole lot into it .. maybe by using the word VISIT , God simply means that .. Visit .. Although this team did bring help and aid all along the way, they focused on the VISIT .  

How incredible Blair was with the kids .. here she is teaching them first what a crayon is, then using that to teach them about LOVE

 they built the relationships , and through that they were an incredible blessing to everyone they met . 

Jake sought out the least of these and connected with them in a special way 

 It is so difficult for us to give the individual attention that we want to the people that God has placed in front of us , but with the help of this team, everyone not just felt, but knew that they were special, 

Adyp is the cousin of some of the boys we work , he is always a tag along when we have the boys with us ,  this day he  was not a tag along, but was given the attention he need.. Karen made sure of that . 

something we could not have done so effectively on our own .    

picking up mattresses from Aigoola to deliver to the Children's Hospital / orphanage 

Thank you team , and thank you Parkside 

Galatians 5:22-24

The Message (MSG)

^22-23 But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.