lazy susans + language study.

south caroline sunset from last night 

our team! minus the westmont people. from L to R: me, tori, brooke, heather, and ben. 

tori put an empty watermelon rind on her head. normal stuff. ;)

Today was definitely a learning day.

Woke up at 7:15 and found that no one was in my room. Whoops. Haha. Brooke, Heather and Tori are the best roommates anyone could ask for. Ben is around the corner in his own room (only guy besides the staff here. Poor dude.) and the South Africa team is in the room down the hall. Just FYI. ;)

Had a bagel for breakfast and chatted with everyone around the table. We had devotions with Tom at 9, focusing on Hebrews 11 and faith. How things seen were created by things unseen. All of us shared our testimonies (half way through the roofers came in so we migrated to the living room where the magic happens.) Hearing how everyone got to that house, to eventually go to South Africa or Guatemala, was so. Cool. God used different means in each of our lives - to ultimately accomplish his purposes in our lives.

Phyllis Kilburn, the founder of Rainbows of Hope and the most dear and godly lady I have ever met came and spoke to us about some history of Rainbows of Hope and some wisdom pertaining to dealing with children in crisis. It was so helpful + uplifting.

We had lunch at 12:30. It was hilarious because our stomachs were growling during Phyllis' talk. We were all covering our stomachs and trying not to laugh. We ate outside on the picnic tables, it was warm and totally lovely. But the sun was bright. Ha. I love eating with the team and staff. We all have so much in common and we are all outgoing so it's a blast.

In the afternoon, we had two hours of watching a video (sermon) and discussion. We watched Part 1 of a sermon by Henry Nouwan on being beloved children of God. Oh. My. Gracious. It hit home. The fact that we are beloved children of God, and that what is said of Jesus, is said of us. We had a coffee break (for me it was a food break. I don't like coffee ;)) and then had another two hour lecture on Children in Crisis and at Risk. Good, informative stuff. I have never been presented with a situation similar to this at all, so it was good to hear how to approach these situations.

We had dinner outside on the picnic tables again. So wonderful. We did chores + then had language study from 7-9. Patty (our Spanish teacher) had us act out a small drama using the phrases we had learned. It was quite amusing.

These people that I have lived with for the last two days are already good friends. I'm going to miss the South Africa team so bad and I can't wait for August 2 when we come back and debrief together. But I am also extremely excited for the summer. God is going to do amazing and wonderful things. 

We are also a funny bunch. There is a lazy susan in the middle of the long dining table and we were talking about how black eyed susans are Maryland's state flower and relating that to lazy susans. Tori (the outgoing, crazy one on our Guatemala team ;)) said, "So is it illegal to pick lazy susans? I mean BLACK EYED SUSANS." Of course, that is now an inside joke.

Our favorite drink is half and half. Not the cream, but half lemonade and half iced tea. When I get home, I'll probably ask for half and half and gross people out.

Thank you all for your promised (and delivered!) prayers. My team and I feel so supported here. We leave for Guatemala early early Friday morning. Some ways you can contact me, via Facebook, email (ellie.berry94[at]gmail[dot]com) or comments here. Prayer requests are going to go up on the sidebar so keep checking for updates.

God is amazing. He is going to do wonderful + great things this summer. Can't wait to keep y'all updated on this journey.

Buenas noches.