Life that is truly life: Guyana Mission Trip-Part 1

I'm still playing catch up from summer, but I'm determined it will happen!

Kenny and our oldest two boys got to go on the boys' first mission trip out of the country in July. They went with our church to Guyana (in South America) to an orphanage where the church has sent teams for the past several years. The boys did a great job raising their money to go. Many were so kind to donate toward their trip, and they also had huge success with a yard sale where friends donated items and the boys sold them to raise money. They also did yard work, car washing and interior cleaning, etc. to earn the rest of it. It was exciting to see them get to plan and prepare for this incredible trip.

They were the youngest two on the trip (12 and 13 years old), but that didn't slow them down a bit from what I hear! Kenny was responsible for heading up a sports camp for the kids in the orphanage, as well as in the community on various days. The team also did VBS at the orphanage, some construction there, as well as handing out vitamins in the community and doing a prayer walk. Kenny and the boys were a part of a lot of this, too. The experience was just amazing, and I wish I had room here to share all their stories! We do believe that one of the greatest things we can do for our children is to teach them a lifestyle of serving others from a very young age. There are a number of things we have done and continue to do locally, and a trip like this just adds to that..."It's not about me." Our kids are NOT hearing that from the culture around them. It's quite the opposite. They need to be reminded continually through real life experiences that they were created by God and for God and He has great purpose for their lives. The more they learn to get outside themselves and love others like they love themselves, the more fulfilling and rich their lives will be....real life. This is one small chapter in their young lives, but our prayer is that it has molded them a little more into the young men the Lord created them to be and has blessed others for the kingdom of God as they have served.

I will have at least one more post about Guyana with some more pictures and a few stories from the boys in the days ahead. Here are some pictures from the trip...there are SO many great ones it's hard to choose! Btw, thanks to Eye4Media and another friend that went on the trip for the pictures! My husband and boys aren't camera people like I am, so I was very thankful to have these pictures from them! Beautiful faces!!

Daddy with Jake and Caleb...What great memories they will always have
of this trip together!

Caleb became friends with this group of Hindu boys in the community
during the week and was able to share the gospel with them on their last day together.