The Water

This morning started out with sunshine as we drove to an orphanage. This was no ordinary orphanage. This place was a kind of heaven, where adults and children with disabilities are gathered together with smiles, love, and freedom. This facility was well-equipped to care for the needs of these people, but we were able to donate a ton of rice and laundry detergent. The director of the orphanage had a beautiful passion for the people and the purpose of the institution. After a tour, we were able to feed people for lunch. There was something so powerful in the act of physically feeding people who are incapable of feeding themselves. We all experienced so many emotions, wrestled with hard questions, and performed uncomfortable tasks. Through all this, we felt love, saw Christ, and were encouraged. The effect of our presence in this place was humbling and powerful.

The emotional experience of the morning was followed by a relaxing lunch at a restaurant on the top of a mountain. The beauty of God's creation is as vast as the mountain to the orphanage, and more than we could have ever imagine.

Today was the first day we traveled to the aquatic center! The kids that we worked with in the pool were much different from the children we've been working with on this trip so far. These kids spoke English, had iPhones, and had busy schedules with school and swimming. But as soon as we walked in to the beautiful outdoor pool, we knew that our purpose was the same as when we walked in to the developing communities: love the kids. We swam through drills with the kids, and afterwards we had a doughnut social with the swimmers. Humberto shared a beautiful testimony with everyone. We can always be reminded that despite our love of the water, there is a living water that matters more.

We were able to take pictures and share stories with the kids. We can not wait for the rest of our time with them. We never expected to swim in a different country with other swimmers, and we feel so blessed to be able to do this with a missional attitude!

Swimmer Girls:)