It's a beautiful day at Emmanuel

It has been beautiful day here at Emmanuel and all of the projects for the day are complete!  The morning began early at 6am with devotion circle time at the children's houses where each team used a fun fish puppet "El Pez" to tell the Creation Story to the kids in English and Spanish.  The kids loved "El Pez" and enjoyed eating the marshmallow pretzel animals and people they "created" as well! After our circle time with the kids they had to get ready for their school day to begin.

The mission teams worked all throughout the grounds here at Emmanuel assisting in various projects today.  The irrigation project is off to a really great start - all the digging was actually completed this morning for the irrigation lines (which I have been informed is ahead of schedule) and the PVC pipe has been laid in the ground today and is ready for testing tomorrow and cover up.  There will be some sprinkler heads added tomorrow to the irrigation lines and phase II of the irrigation project will begin. There were over 20 volunteers digging today with pick axes and shovels working together to get the irrigation lines in the ground - it was quite a sight to see early this morning with everyone out there working together!  Team work at its finest.

The baking of the cookies for 500 kids has become a project itself too; as of right now the gas for the big ovens is not working.  Hopefully that will change, but in case it does not, the cookie team is ready to improvise and bake in a small oven for over 1000 cookies.  I keep hearing everyone say to be "like water" when in Honduras and go with the flow - yes, 1000 + cookies, 1 small oven, 500 kids and a missionary team that is determined to make sure these wonderful kids get these cookies one way or another.  The cookie dough has been made and the 1st batch of cookies has been rolled and is ready to be baked - it would be great to have the big ovens but it will work out one way or another!

There have been so many beautiful things taking place today across Emmanuel - some of my favorites were the 200 brand new shoes that were donated and brought by the Unterreiner's family and handed out to the kids today that really needed new shoes. These new shoes will go a long way here and are really appreciated by the kids.  The little kids, aka the "power toddlers", loved watching the shadow puppet play and they really were excited during the showing of Jonah and the Whale - the little boys were all squealing when Jonah was in the belly of the whale and they loved the shadow puppets!  It was truely a wonderful experience to get to sit in the audience with a pile of little kids on our laps and watch the the play as well.  

The farm was a treat for some of the mission group teens today - after working on the irrigation lines and completing their project work they went up to the farm to help out some of the older Emmanuel boys with their daily work.  They helped out with milking the cows and then made the rounds visiting the rest of the farm animals.  

This evening we had the Emmanuel staff join us for dinner and enjoyed time with their families as well. Today has been a beautiful day and I cannot wait to see what tomorrow will bring.  

 

Arrived safely

We all arrived safely at Emmanuel - the evening was spent getting settled in and having orientation discussion about the kids.  Orientation was really important for us first timers as it really gave us some good insight as to where some of the kids come from, what they have been through, and that we are here to contribute in whatever wonderful way God has intended for us.

Tonight we didn't get to visit with the kids because it was too late by the time we were done with orientation; instead our evening was spent as a group enjoying a great dinner and fellowship.  We lost power for 2 hrs tonight but everyone just pulled out their flashlights and enjoyed the cool evening air that the rain brought in.  We even had guitar playing and singing from some of our High School girls.  I know everyone is very excited for tomorrow - Church in the morning and then a day filled with fun activities with the kids.  There may be some backup generator work going on at some point as well:)

Will post more tomorrow -

3 more weeks to go!

Only 3 more weeks until we are arrive at Orphanage Emmanuel - as a first timer going on this mission trip I am very excited be part of this!  I can't wait to meet the power toddlers I have heard so much about and all the wonderful children of Orphanage Emmanuel.  Pictured here are some pics of our puppet group hard at work prepping the shadow puppet show that they will perform for the kids in Honduras.

5 weeks to go!

Wow - I can't believe we only have 5 more weeks until we leave for the mission  trip to Honduras!  I know we are all getting really excited about the trip and about the wonderful work we will do at the Orphanage Emmanuel.  A couple of weeks ago we were able to preview the children's fish themed activities that we will be doing each day with the kids - there has been a lot of hard work and creativity put into these activities and the kids are going to love it!  One of my favorite fish themed activities is a shadow puppet play of Jonah and the Whale - check out the shadow puppets that Anna Grace and Erin made by hand - so unique and special! I am so thankful for this chance to be part of this mission trip and I cannot wait to see what wonderful blessings we will all be part of.  

Final shipment heading to Honduras

Only two more months until we leave for our mission trip and the preparations are well underway.  The last shipment just left last Friday and it was a container full of wonderful donations for the children and staff at Orphanage Emmanuel.  There was over 1000 lbs of items loaded onto a trailer and taken to Chattanooga to be loaded into 18 wheeler for shipping to Honduras.  Amongst the 1000 lbs of items were: shovels, rakes, pick axes, flour, sugar, icing, MANY candy fish, fish crackers, fish piñatas, (FISH is our theme this year) hair bows, nail polish, art supplies, toner for the office printer at Emmanuel, play doh, letter openers, dry erasers and markers..and on and on! 

The children's lessons are also being planned and the general theme will be around "We are little fish in a God's great big story of love for his people". Some of us will have to pull out our acting skills for the lessons!  There are lots of great ideas being discussed and more updates to follow. 

Here are some pics of the last shipment being loaded:  

Fishing Boards

Kelly Walsh's Junior High Small Group & Heather Gerrick's High School Small group partnered together for a service project to paint fishing boards for the September Mission Trip. The theme this year will be based on fish and the kids will have fun fishing for treats and learning about being fishers of men!  Check out the fantastic fishing boards below:

1st Shipment for Orphanage Emmanuel

We are excited that the BIG project at Orphanage Emmanuel this year will be putting in irrigation lines for a papaya grove and building another water tower. In preparation for the work to be done the 1st trailer load of items were taken to Chattanooga last Sunday to be loaded into the shipping container headed for Honduras. The trailer was loaded with PVC pipe that was purchased with monies donated by Hillside Men's Ministry, hardware for completing the projects, a couch for Andi (the volunteer coordinator at Emmanuel), and a freezer that was donated for Emmanuel. There were also hair clippers, flip flops, hair bows, nail polish, books, and enough dough and icing to make 1500 cookies for the children! There will be a 2nd load going soon with more good stuff! We are excited about this mission trip and cannot wait to see what blessings God will provide through us.