Hello Jacksonville!
It is very late on Tuesday night, the last week of our trip. I cannot believe that the end is so near...everything has gone by so fast. It seems like yesterday when I was writing the first blog of the trip, and now I am writing one of the last. We will be back in Jacksonville this Saturday afternoon.
Today was our last day with the kids in Murundu. It went like most of the other days. We could see the crowd of children gathered and waiting for us as we drove our van into the village. They were all grinning and hopping and clapping their hands...it's really quite a reception. We definitely know that they've been waiting for us. Lately, our team has gotten a little worn out. We've been going non-stop for about two and a half weeks. During the first week, most of us ran around with the kids,and played games, and kicked balls as soon as we arrived. A few of us are still doing that, but myself and some of the others have taken to holding the kids, sitting with them, letting them play with our hair. It's quality time spent, but it's a lot easier on the body when you're tired. I really enjoy this part of our day. We have very little to actually say to each other because of the language barrier, but you find ways to communicate. There's one small girl (she's about six) named Colvier. I've taught her how to say, "I love you" in sign language. I've tried to translate it into Bemba so that she knows what we're saying...I'm actually not sure that she does, but she has a pretty good time when sign it to each other.
Today we reviewed the Gospel story and prayed the salvation prayer with the kids. We did that last week, as well, but there have been so many new kids this week that we decided to do it again. I expected that all the kids would want to pray the prayer, and they did. After that, we explained to the children that we wanted to pray for them. So we had them raise their hands if they wanted prayer while we walked around. I really enjoyed this time. I sort of expected it to be a madhouse, with a riot of kids wanting prayer because it's another way to get attention from us. But it wasn't like that at all. In fact, they were very quiet, for the most part, and when we prayed for them and laid hands on them, they covered their eyes and bowed their heads. It seemed to me that our time spent praying for them really meant something to them...it wasn't a joke. It's amazing to feel the Holy Spirit at work, and to be a part of something eternal that's being done. I feel incredibly blessed that God has allowed me to be a part of the time spent in prayer with the kids today.
In fact, I feel blessed to have been able to come on this trip. This was a short-term trip, and after we leave on Friday, we're gone. Those kids will stay, and they will continue living the way that they were living before we arrived. We have been able to provide for some of their material needs while we've been here, and that's awesome. I'm glad that some of those needs are being met. But even if that wasn't the case, even if all we were able to do was spend a little bit of time with them, it would have been good. These kids, they're so hungry for attention. They climb all over us when we arrive, and they don't let go. To be able to give them the kind of love from an adult that they ought to be receiving anyway, even if it's only for a short while, has been good. They need that. And I thank God that I've been able to do that for a child...to help her know that she is special, that she is worth something, and to do that just by holding her.
All right, it is very late now. Good night to everyone in Jacksonville...we will all see you very soon!

Sarah