Sunday, November 5, 2017 - Day 9

Photo Credit: Dan Wheeler

This morning marked our last church service at Toledo Faith Outreach Christian Center. I find it funny and familiar at the same time, watching the change in comfort levels in my team mates. Our first service there was new and unfamiliar to many on the team and we stayed close together. Now that we've been to service before and are familiar with some of the people around us the team is spread out and talking to those around us.

Silly team picture before chruch

I sat in church between Dan and Dustin. As I was sitting there I began to reflect on the fact that, despite us being family, we have never spent this much time together before. There is a familiar sort of comfort level between us. I realized in that moment that I had people in my life that care about me, even if we don't see each other all the time. Caring for others doesn't have to be confined to time spent together or apart. Caring has more to do with your heart towards that person, and a real relationship with each other. In that moment I realized how grateful I was to have my cousins with me and for the opportunity to get to know each other better.

Photo Credit: Pastor Bruce

Pastor Bruce taught this morning on being obedient to God when He tells you to do something. Bruce might as well have been talking to me. I have had clear direction from God since last year or so, but I have allowed myself to be held back by self doubt, insecurity, fear, and hurt. I know what I am called to do. I know my purpose and calling with amazing clarity. Yet I have allowed myself to be made to feel unimportant, insignificant, and purposeless, and therefore, have ignored what I know God has told me to do. Pastor Bruce's message helped me to realize that a large measure of what and who God has called me to is not about me, it's about Him. He has spoken and Him will fulfill what He speaks in the right timing and way. Anything past my obedience is not dependent upon me. All I have to do is hold tight to what God has spoken and God called me to, obeying Him. In that is my identity, and I must learn to be true to that.

Coconut that sprouted while we were there

Following church we had lunch at LOL. While we were eating lunch Pastor Bruce and Natalie were able to take "family" photos of all the new foster families that LOL is setting up. The foster families are probably one of my favorite new developments at LOL. Adoption from Belize is seemingly next to impossible, meaning that some of these kids will never officially have a family. Yet LOL has found a way to give these kids family in a very special way. They have restructured in a way that creates a sense of love, belonging, and family for the kids. And the kids are thriving because of it.

During church Amber wasn't feeling well so during lunch Rachael hooked her up to an IV to help hydrate her. The entire team ended up moving our lunch table so that we could all sit together and eat lunch as a group. That simple act alone spoke to me of just how well this team integrated together and became a family. That they would shift everything to make sure that everyone was included wasn't surprising for this team and it was wonderful to be a part of.

The first thing that we did after lunch was give out the medals for the Olympic games from the day before. We had planned to host more of the Olympic's today, but opted to just have fun with the kids instead.

A view from the 3rd floor of the field where we put the slip-n-slides

For fun day today we set up 2 slip-n-slides for the kids. The first one was 25 feet long and for the smaller kids. The second on was 50 feet long and for the older kids. We also had boogie boards for them to ride down the slip-n-slides on. At first they went through the motions of doing it, especially the older kids, but it didn't take long before everyone was having a blast.

I had the chance to spend this time helping one of the kids take pictures with Natalie's camera. We walked around LOL together while he took as many pictures as possible. He amazed me with his natural eye for photography and I can't wait to get copies of his pictures from Natalie.

Around 3pm we started packing and cleaning up. Leaving LOL is always the most difficult part of this trip. This would be our final day at LOL and it quickly became our home away from home. We poured ourselves into it and left a part of each of our hearts there. The bus ride home was bittersweet and quiet.

At home Natalie and Dan Cooper were both dehydrated, so I helped Rachael as best as I could to get IV's for them. We set up a spot in the screened patio where we were staying. Peter helped to hook up rope and carabiners to the rafters to hang the IV bags from. Rachael got Natalie set up just fine and Natalie was Face-timing her mom and munching on snacks while we set Dan up.

I had helped Rachael demonstrate how to give an IV last year, with Dan Cooper as our volunteer. Since it was so easy last year we expected the same again. Boy were we wrong! Shortly after Rachael got the needle in Dan's arm he said that he was feeling woozy, and then passed out. Luckily Peter was there to hold Dan's head up. I was holding Dan's shoulders and Rachael was holding the needle in his arm, getting ready to tape it in place. A moment later Dan started seizing. All I remember of that was Rachael telling Dan "you're not doing this to me now." The seizure only lasted about a moment but it felt like much longer, then Dan started to wake up. Once he woke up he had no idea that any time had passed.

Once Rachael got the IV taped in place on Dan's arm we moved him to the floor to lay down. He ended up draining 2 IV bags rapidly. After the IV Dan said that he was feeling better, and even joined us for dinner. While we were eating dinner Dan's chair collapsed under him, mid-sentence, and he thought that he had passed out again. Lucky for him his years of playing hockey paid off and he managed to fall without hitting his head on the cement floor. Needless to say, Dan had a rough end to the day.

Bear, our very stinky guard dog

After dinner, Melissa and Jervis, and their children joined us for our final debriefing. We were able to spend the time talking about everything that we had seen and experienced this past week. Those on the team who had been here before all agreed that we could see a positive change in the kids due to the changes made at LOL in the way that they do things and structure things. The love that everyone at LOL has for these kids has changed their lives!

We have an early day tomorrow for our fun day to wrap up our time here. The rest of our evening was filled with packing to go home and organizing.