Spain Day 4

Another amazing day today in which God continued to give us incredible ease of scheduling! The kids have gotten more comfortable around us, and even have asked us church related questions! They have grown more confident in the English questsions they ask us, and we do our best to understand. Simple games like "duck, duck, goose" and their favorite card game Uno, help them learn little English words! For crafts, the kids made dragonflies and colored! They used yesterday's craft in the music class in which they learned two verses of This Little Light of Mine! Their favorite part is definitely shouting "NO, I'm gonna let it shine", especially the 3-5 year olds! Recreation was fun and crazy as always with the game hoola-hoop basketball; pretty sure the boys used their bodies as the backboard. It is amazing to see everyone serve in the perfect role God has placed them in! And how everyone has really exemplified Jesus' servant heart!

Spain Day 3

It was such an amazing day today! Seeing how God worked all the plans together, and how He equipped us all for our jobs was truly incredible! Started off the morning singing a crazy Spanish song with the kids! Then spent an hour telling English bible stories through a translator. We then proceeded to help them learn some of the English used in the story, and even have them write it out! Recreation was a crazy, awesome, sweaty time! The boys did an amazing job planning it out! During our break we had salami  and cream cheese sandwiches out of dire need. Crafts was a maraca out of a paper cup, rice, and plastic top! Brittany, Lizzie, Devyn, and Rebekah planned all our crafts for the week! Later in the week the maracas will be used for music time, in which the kids will learn "This Little Light of Mine" in English. The highlights of the day were getting to use the Spanish some of us have learned in Highschool, spending time with the kids and speaking through the universal language of God's love, watching little kids trying to teach us their language, and in general, being amazed at how God orchestrated the whole thing!

Spain Day 1-2

Arrived safely in Spain today! None of us are quite sure how long we have been awake, or what size our ankles are supposed to be. After the plane ride we rode multiple trains to the church! I think we all got our workout in today on the stairs and escalators! But God is good and we were warmly welcomed by Oriole and the rest of the church leaders! After an amazing lunch, we quickly got to work planning this week's VBS-like camp, which will include English Bible story classes, recreation, crafts, English music classes, and much more! Although a couple people say they are not suffering from jet-lag, I think everyone will sleep well tonight. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for this week, and what He will do through us!

Alaska Day 2

Alaska: Day 2-July 4th

      For the Fourth of July, the First Baptist team was asked by Whittier Christ Community Church and the Whittier Chamber of Commerce to help serve during their annual cookout celebration for the town.  Some team members cut up watermelon, tomatoes, lettuce and onions for the cookout, some set up and manned the bounce house and face painting table and others set up, cooked and served at the cookout.  What a wonderful chance to experience the 4^th of July in a small town (Whittier only has a little over 1200 people).  After clean up and a little site seeing, the team went for a hike to see Byron Glacier.  It was a busy and long day but a great day. 

      Wednesday will be True North donut ministry, passing invites for the block party that evening and the block party.  More on that tomorrow!

Jimmy, Virginia & the Alaska Team

Alaska 3-4

Alaska Day 3-4
Happy Wednesday and Thursday from Anchorage!  On both days the team helped prepare packages of donuts to deliver to the local businesses here in Anchorage.  Who could not use a little pick me up of Krispy Kreme (they got one here about a year ago) to get you through the day!  The donut ministry along with the park parties, are two of the biggest events that draw people to True North. We heard a story of a young lady that now attends True North because her roommate brought home donuts that had been delivered that morning.  Another member told us that she first learned of True North by attending a park party.  After we passed out donuts, the teams hung door knockers inviting members in the Woodside neighborhood (Wednesday) and the Turpin neighborhood (Thursday) to that evenings block party.  Some great Gospel conversations were had both nights.  Please be praying for the team as we leave for the airport Friday night around 10 PM to begin our journey home and that we will be back in Norfolk Saturday afternoon at 1:51 PM.
Virginia & Alaska Team

 

Alaska Day 1

Alaska: Day 1
        After an exciting two days of travel (delayed flight out of Norfolk to Houston caused the team to miss their flight from Houston to Denver causing us to stay overnight Saturday in Houston then a 1 hour delay out of Chicago caused a delayed arrival in Anchorage on Sunday evening) the team has made it to Anchorage.  We missed not spending time with True North Anchorage on Sunday morning, but what a fun experience worshiping with our First Norfolk family while in the Houston Airport!
        Day 1 working with True North started with a prayer walk in two different neighborhoods here in Anchorage.  The First Norfolk Team was in the Mountain View area of town which is the most culturally diverse neighborhood in the world.  This can be seen in the different cultural centers in the area: American Samoan, Polynesian, Hispanic, Korean, etc.  Each person walked away with a different feeling or emotional experience. 
        After a wonderful lunch, the teams split up again and went to 4 different laundromats to bless people that were there doing to weekly wash.  We paid for laundry, gave detergent and drier sheets, gave out sweet treats and had wonderful conversations with the people there. 
        Our day ended with another wonderful homemade meal.
        What a wonderful day!  Tomorrow we are off to Whittier to help with a July 4^th cookout put on by the Chamber of Commerce.  More tomorrow!
Virginia & Alaska Team