Wednesday, January 18 :)

Home dedication today and there aren't enough words in ANY language to describe the feelings that come from this experience! God is good. All the time. This is specifically one of those times that only the phrase "it is more blessed to give than to receive" is appropriate. I'll try to summarize the experience, forgive me if I stumble with emotions blog style:

We arrived with housewarming gifts for the 15 home owners and their families. Our intent was to pray with the families, ask them if they know Christ as their personal savior, present the gospel appropriately, provide home supply gifts including adult and child geared spanish Bibles, share a picture of their home sponsors (whomever from the USA paid for the building supplies) and sing the benediction in their native tongue. The experience was distinctly different at each home. The second home our group dedicated with the family received Christ for the first time ~ to witness that step of faith knowing I likely won't meet them again until Heaven left me both in tears of gratitude and completely speechless at the handiwork of the Spirit in that place. Another family, already Christians, were so grateful for God answering their prayers for a home that they couldn't stop crying and thanking. They confidently exclaimed God will continually bless us so we can continue to bless others generously. A third home supplied us with homemade lunch and pop, an expense they I'm very doubtfull they could afford.

We followed each home dedication up with a little fiesta - well just fireworks and cheering :) Isn't the fattened calf supposed to be cooked for celebration after the lost son returns home? We'll continue to pray for these families to be blessed in their home and in their faith walk, whatever that might be, for many years to come. Please join us in that endeavor knowing all of this transpired on God's strength not ours and He can do amazing things (I would've mucked things up quite nicely if left alone!).

Tomorrow we depart the mission home at 3am and, Lord willing, hope to be back to church in Moline by about midnight. Please pray for travel safety and health - we're eager to return to our families renewed and ready to share the details!
~ Michelle Vonk (the newbie)