Our time in the Windy City truly was a whirlwind. After we got of the plane, we went and visited the Lincoln Park Zoo and other touristy type places in the city. The girls were in awe of the bigness of the city. However, after multiple days of getting up early, they were eager to get home and crash.
Thursday consisted of serving at a homeless shelter during the day and then a play at night. Friday we served at a kids outreach event for over 1000 inner city kids. The girls did a great job helping in both activities. It was a neat thing for them to see that poverty not only exists in the DR but also here in the US. A pastor in Chicago named Tito helped facilitate our serving experiences in Chicago. He was a man on fire for God and many of the girls were very much impacted by his teachings throughout the two days. One highlight that left all of us speachless was when we were closing out our time in prayer Thursday night. I shared with the group that my dad had just been taken into the hospital because he had been having internal bleeeding. He offered to pray and in the middle of the prayer, he prayed for Carol (by name) and that God would help her through this. Well, the crazy part of all this was that in all of my time (one day) with Chicago, I had never told Tito my mom's name! Folks, the Holy Spirit is real. I'm not sure how one could explain that one without involving GOD! GLORIA A DIOS!!! Tito was a light to all of us showing us what a man on fire with the Holy Spirit looks like. He even came out to support the girls on Saturday when they played an EVP beach tournament. Super fun time, but our time is Chicago left us physically drained, but very much spiritually filled.
Prayer Request: Please continue to be in prayer for my dad. He has been having internal bleeding. It has now stopped and just came home after being in the hospital for a week. Please also pray for my mom. This has been really hard on both of them as they deal with this as well as feeling sad because they can't spend this time with my girls. It's been tough on all of us. However, I know God has had a plan in this and has allowed me to be here during this time to support my family in whatever way I can.
What have we been up to since Chicago? The girls got to share in my home church on Sunday. Sunday night, they played some ice-breaker games and then moved into their homestay homes. We all went to Grand Haven beach and they got to experience agua dulce (translates to sweet water) instead of salt water! Today they spent the day with their host families. I'll try to get maybe one or two more updates before we head back Monday.
This week.... Thursday- Shopping and volleyball game against my high school. Friday- Buggy rides and dinner at Amish Restuarant Essenhaus. Saturday- Tubing with family for FFM Sunday-Church at FFM, picnic, bowling with Bethel Pilot vball girls Monday- FLY HOME!
Video to come! We've been trying to work on it... we are just so busy!!!
