Here's the latest update from Mike's team:
Subject: Mexico update #10
Hello praying friends! Just got off the phone with Anthony (3:35pm, Nashville time, Sunday) who was overflowing with praise and thanksgiving for this team and the way God has met them on this trip. I will try to summarize all that he said but I am not sure I can do the tone of joy justice. They are on the road right now to Texarkana, making good time due to open highways and an early start (up at 5:30 and left at 6:00). He said they are pretty tired, all of them, but health and moods are good.
First, your prayers and faithfulness are so appreciated. The unity of this team has amazed the leaders and the Mission Discovery folks. Anthony said the leaders "knew their hearts are golden, but they had no experience", and as he had said in earlier posts, the kids were smaller physically than some past, and none had been on a trip before except the leaders. However, God makes up for any lack on our part! "They rose to every expectation, over and over. Their team spirit was incredible. They were so unselfish. Anytime there was downtime on one site, they'd go to the other house and ask what needed doing and do it.." The team was able to finish three houses, and even finished early, which is truly amazing since some teams with more experience have had to push hard to finish two. And we read yesterday of the eternal work the Lord
accomplished through the vbs...51 children!
Anthony said they really had a great sense of community even before they left Nashville, but that having all three work sites next to each other helped tremendously. He said the leaders were so aware of the fact that the kids had very little down time on this trip due to the fact that the work site was a two hour drive from the Mission Discovery camp. That cut into the kids' swim time and down time, but the students' attitude were really outstanding. The phrase 'servant heart' was used repeatedly! In fact he said he and Steve would have a hard time narrowing down the 'Aaron Pearson" (outstanding service and friendly reaching-out award) to one person because the whole team showed that precious spirit. Karen and Andrew (teen leaders) both made tremendous contributions to modeling and encouraging the younger ones in that, he said.
Last night after they left the big group time and split into individual church teams for small group time, the Mission Discovery leader Maury stuck his head in their room and said Belmont is always such a gift to the staff. The team invited him to come in and be prayed for before he left to travel to another camp across the country. The kids gathered around and sought the Lord and heard many things on Maury's behalf. He told Anthony " It was incredible to see these junior highers hearing God for me" and was so blessed by it all.
Some prayer points as we stand with this diligent team who is seeking to finish well:
* that the Lord would preserve what He has given this team. That they 'wouldn't forget' once they are home.
* that the team could hold on to the community they have and invite others who didn't make the trip in to that community.
* for good travel time and continued protection and for health. (Sam Barker's fever is gone by the way, and the kids showed wisdom about sunscreen and time in the sun at the beach yesterday.)
* for good rest for the leaders and drivers
Again, thank you all for the sweet privilege of praying alongside you. Thanks too for your patience as we ironed out the wrinkles in the email system and list. They are almost home!
Angela
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