Holiday Club Week #1

First week of Holiday Club is officially over!!! wooohooooo. 

FIRST OF ALL. here is a picture I took on Monday morning around 7:30. I was out in Overcome getting ready for our first day of holiday club. Since the team I am with works in both Overcome and Capricorn, we split up and some have been in Cap and the others have been in Overcome. I am one of the ones who gets to spend my days out in Overcome during the next 3 weeks. This is the view I see every day. It may look like a dump...but I have absolutely grown to love this place and the kids that call this home. I believe that even in the ugliest and darkest of places you can find beauty...it just might take a little longer. 

now only 2 more weeks of it till we can take it easy for awhile. It's been a great week so far, though I think if I never hear the waka waka song by Shakira i'll be okay. Next week we have a team coming in so it'll be nice to kind of sit back and let them take some initiative. 

So this first week the theme has been the olympics. Naturally I have worn my Texas jersey everyday (thanks nanny). Though the days have been long they have been really fun. Monday we didn't have a big turn out, which was actually quite nice because we didn't want full overload and run out of steam on just the first day. The second day we had a good amount of kids but this was the day the Lord decided to open the floodgates of Heaven and send the rain a pouring. Now the only thing we have in Overcome is a old container...so imagine 4 adults and 65 kids squished into this. 

We made due and there was no such thing as personal space. We thankfully had a movie, so when the rains came the movie went on. During this week I have been in charge of crafts which is right up my alley. Alot of coloring really...but what kid doesn't enjoy a good coloring page! I think Tuesday has been my favorite day thus far. We had our speakers out and while I was in the container with the little kids (7&under) I softly played some music. Well after about two songs Adele's Someone Like You came on. Right as I got up to change it...thinking I doubt these kids even know this song...EVERY child in there was singing along, loudly. It was the cutest thing ever. Since then we have played a little Adele every day

This precious face, Tyrone, STOLE the show when Adele came on. He stopped whatever he was doing got up and just sang. Eyes closed, hand in a fist with imaginary microphone, oh best believe he was on fire! haha I wanted to get it recorded but my phone was hooked up to the speakers...Emily may have gotten some footage, if so yall will certainly get to see it on here! 

ohh what else is share worthy...

well I guess a picture can tell a thousand words right? I'll let these few pictures do the talking for me ;) 

the gang. last group picture with Marti, Emily && Allison! :(

Stacey and Ilana

Caleb 

Cameron, Lwando and hmm a new kid! 

since being here i've learned you must ALWAYS take two pictures. because the first is either always bad...or super sweet. Sibusiso and Adrian 

kids being kids 

LOVE this child. his name is Adrian...he gives the absolute best hugs.

Well those are just a few that have been taken this week. Emily had her camera so once she puts her pictures up I'll have more to share. 

This morning it was my turn to do devotion. I actually completely forgot until late last night and thankfully had my Jesus Calling book. I opened it to the devo it had for today and for those of you who don't know what this book is, it's a 365 day devotional. It has a little devo for every day...got it from the Upps for graduation :] anywayssss today I talked to the group about how God is good and the more we experience him the more apparent that statement truly is. 

"Taste and see that I am good. This command contains an invitation to experience My Living Presence. It also contains a promise, the more you experience me, the more convinced you become of my goodness. This knowledge is essential to your faith walk. When adversaries strike, the human instinct is to doubt my goodness. My ways are mysterious, even to those who know me intimately. As the heavens are higher than earth, so are my ways and thoughts. Do not try to fathom my ways. Instead, spend time enjoying me and experiencing my goodness."

I think, especially being here, I need to remember this. For the life of me I may never understand why God chose these kids to be born into the atmosphere they are in. To be diagnosed with HIV at a young age or lost a parent to the disease. To not be scared of the 'monster in my closet' but of guns, knifes and drugs. What I need to do is not fret about those things but bring to light all the amazing things God IS doing in these kids lives. He is always up to something and has the power to change any situation for the better, whether we realize it or not. Like it says in the text, when adversaries strike, it's our own human nature to doubt God. Throughout my time here I have had some bumps along the road. It hasn't been perfect but through these imperfections God has shown me that he is constantly around and will always be there guiding me to where I need to go. I have always said that God will use not only your strengths but also your weaknesses, because when you accomplish something you thought you couldn't do, or something you have dubbed as one of your biggest weaknesses, that is when God is showing you with him anything can happen. It is like I said about the picture I took of Overcome...you can still find beauty in the ugliest and darkest of places, it just may take you a little longer. God is everywhere whether you feel his presence or not it's just a matter of time until he opens your eyes to what you need to see.  

This afternoon when we were done with kids club, we had a break before we had to be back for teens club. I went to my car and went to start it and nothing...the engine didn't even try to start, my car was silent every time I turned the key. Of course everyone in the car with me thought I was just joking because, well lets face it...I probably would too if I were them. From different things I have heard since being here, Overcome might be the last place you'd want to be stranded. It's certainly not the safest of places. Thankfully I was right in front of our container. Within seconds guys that were just hanging out in the street came over, popped my hood and had another car sitting in front of me jumping my car. Another guy just happened to walk by who was a mechanic. I couldn't believe how all these guys had everything they needed to help me out. Just comes to show that God does work in mysterious ways and will use the people we are least likely to expect. After some pushing on this and wiggling that, my car started (apparently the starter was stuck, yeah idk) and I got to meet some of the locals...God once again turned, what seemed to us, a bad situation into a good one, even opened doors to share with these guys what we do in their neighborhood everyday. 

And if that wasn't the icing on the cake...we got back to Capricorn to find out that the summer volunteers had bought us all lunch! how sweet are they. Emily, Allison and Marti. 

there last day with us was today. they have been here for 5 weeks. BLOW MY MIND that they are leaving. It's kind of scary how fast that time really went. We had gatsby's for lunch which are these huge sandwiches. the insides consist of chicken, sauce, tomatoes, lettuce, and fries.

of course I needed a picture with the ginger beer. 

Well I hope everyone back in the good United States of Awesome is doing wonderful. And for anyone who is going through a hard time right now...I promise God will turn it into something good. You may not know what it is now..in a few months or even years, but I do guarantee you that you are not alone and only time will tell when your eyes are opened to the beauty that God is waiting for you to experience. :]

Kindness..a language the deaf can hear and the blind can see. Love this sweet boy and even though he'll never hear a word I tell him..hopefully he'll see my love through my actions :]