Day 4 - Shoes, kids and Lots of Prayer

Today was an early day but everyone was smiling. After a 40 minute drive, we reached Shoes for Orphan souls. Last year, Chris and Kirsten injured their eyes while busting boxes. So when listening to Mike as he told us stories about the distribution, we laughed when he playfully scolded us for getting injured and pulled safety goggles to hand to Chris and Kirsten. After having a good laugh, (Chris had bought the goggles months ago) we went to work. We binded shoes and put notes of encouragement in each one. As tiedious as that sounds, it was definately a chill time compared to how we usually work Shoes...blazing through boxes and pallets and trying to get the most work done. It was a good time to pray over each pair.

We worked the entire two pallets and after taking a goup picture, we boarded and headed off to CiCi's. It was delicious, especially the mac and cheese pizza that we had to order two of to accommodate everyone's need for cheese.

Afterwards, we loaded and went to Buckners Children. After quickly setting up, the mimes talked about the set and donned thier makeup, while some went outside to play "Punk" with the kids. Short attention spans are not just limited to our youth... we couldn't get through a round of the game without someone 'oooo look at that bug" or "girl, you out!" or the kids walking away all together. After detouring from the game and inspecting the bugs, we finished blocking and getting ready.

 The mimes would be in makeup. As they blocked the scene, the roadies looked for stray powder to wipe from their clothes. They finished and prayed as Patti gathered the kids. A lot of the kids had seen the mimes before and they were really excited. Also you can expect kids to wiggle a lot during a longer performance, but they were still. White faces really helped a lot. The kids sat fascinated and during "You were There," one of the office ladies shouted amen! There were giggles during the box skit, and they were so attentive. An overall good set, I pray that it gets through to the kids.

Afterwards, the kids asked their questions like their leaders asked, but they really just wanted to hang out. As soon as the leaders gave the okay, they squealed with delight and jumped at the mimes. Then, it was a great time of fellowship, secret handshakes, step, paddy-cake games, dancing and just-for-fun teasing. When told to pack up, the kids obediently went for the door, but certainly didn't neglect to say goodbye and give hugs.

The team packed up and headed out to Sonic for happy hour. The one van had to quickly turn back for a lost bag, but we were soon reunited with the rest of the team and enjoyed cold drinks in the hot sun. The Sonic girls had to say hi and thank you, which was a great encouragement to the mimes...especially since we hadn't done anything there but order drinks. It was really sweet of them.

We got back on the road and headed for Six Stones. Once there, they told us the results of our ministry  from last year. The church they had just started had now grown to over 33 members. "Praise you in the storm "stuck out for the leader. During the song, the hard basketball players had stopped and a lone child watched entranced. One of his leaders went to the child and asked "do you have any storms?" To which is the child replied, "yes, I do." Ground work was laid down which showed the mimes a purpose. We had a dinner of chips and 'dogs and talked about the set. After dinner, we got our symbols, got changed and got ready. he park was closeby and there were a whole bunch of kids playing in the gazebo, trying to get out of the sun. the sound team quickly set up while but mimes preped. the first thought is thing was that this year a group at the park was a lot harder than the last year. I worried that they would get discouraged from thier lack of audience, but then one lone boy came and stood directly in front of

them, watching attentively. Unfortunately the day was so hot today that most of the audience stayed in the gazebo facing away from the mimes. It was "Let it Be" that made a lot of people turn and watch, and a lot of people and sit and calm. Eventually the boy left and the people disappeared, but more reappeared as it went, all attentive to the story. Although the audience was small, the few that were there are the ones who needed to hear.

"East to West "paused the guys playing basketball, and even made some come out of their nearby apartment buildings. When we finished, it took only a few minutes to pack up  the vans. We loaded the sound, played some Chinese fire drill and took off.  It seemed that the kids were dropping like flies. It was probably the heat mixed with dehydration, but a little rest, water and prayer would be great. It was late but we needed a laundry run. So after we got back, Patti and I scrambled to get the clothes ready, but to no avail. It was just too late, so we decided to do the laundry at the hotel....not our first descision. It would take a lot longer and the pants would need ironing. After that realization, we decided to just do the shirts... still a long night.

Please pray for the team. It seems the enemy - especially today - is just attacking and is relentless. While the kids are holding up okay, I can see a little dissention start. Please keep us in your prayers, because tomorrow will be really difficult, especially if the kids are tired and the situation is relentless.