We got Internet! Gloria a Dios! Monday was a day that walked the line between adventure and trial. But after finding out the flight was 30% overbooked, having two flights canceled, almost having to take a 3 hour bus ride and ferry, and finally needing the group to be split up into different airlines to make the trip, we all made it safe and sound to Roatán! It was so encouraging to see how quickly the students all turned to prayer at every change of plans. Their spirits stayed lifted and so did everyone else's in the airport who saw them being joyful / crazy.
Although some of us were quite tired at the end of the day, God definitely kept us not only safe but filled up as well. We actually met someone on one of the flights who had been to Highway's Wiener Nationals last Sunday! That's an annual tradition at Highway where we race dozens of wiener dogs and grill up hot dogs on the BBQ in their honor. If you've never been, you should come next year! Its one of our crazier but most fun traditions. And we met someone on a little jumper plane in the middle of the Caribbean who went to it last Sunday! Truly small world.
Yesterday, we worked on setting up player profiles for the soccer clinic. We also set up a computer lab in the soccer office, including the wireless network that I'm now using to post this!
In the afternoon, we headed over to the soccer field to play and hang out with the kids involved in the soccer program. It's an incredible thing they have going on here - getting kids off the street in El Swampo (one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods in Roatán) and into school, using their love for soccer and chance to be a part of a very successful team to motivate them to keep working hard. Steve Bush, the man in charge of the program, has such a heart for the kids here. He grew up in El Swampo and, although he's educated enough to live anywhere else on the island, chose to stay in El Swampo to love on these kids. Such a blessing to see this how God is at work here.
Last night, we had dinner on a restaurant over the water. A lot of coconut-meets-seafood dishes - yum! Some of our team has been dealing with stomach issues, but they are mostly recovering. Please pray for full recovery for everyone so these last few days are good ones. We begin to head into our debrief time tonight through tomorrow night. It's a slower time of recovery and reflection. This time is one of the most valuable parts of the trip, as it gives each of us the chance to process what we've experienced here and, most importantly, consider what it looks like to take these things home in a lasting way. Please keep this time in prayer. Pray for soft hearts, clear minds, and listening spirits as we seek God in this part of our journey. Thank you for your prayers. Blessings and love to you from all of us.
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