Day Three, July 28th
Originally published on Facebook July 29th, 6:30 am
Day Three, July 28th (posted the next morning due to a very full day three and lights needing to be turned off for sleeping!)
Today (July 28th) started off earlier than the others with breakfast at 6 am, getting everyone fed and everything organized to go to the soccer game in Guadalajara - La Gran Final, Copa Jalisco. We divided up so that each person from our FIC group had a buddy either from the Emmanuel Foundacion or their partner orphanage for boys located in Puerto Vallarta (they had come to stay for a few days because of the quinceañera), Some of the brothers of the girls at the Emmanuel Foundation live at this location. Then we all set off on large tour buses to the city. This allowed us to see, once again, scenes from the lives being lived in this beautiful country that are both similar and different than our own.
Carnival rides in the parking lot of the stadium were a lot of fun with our friends, even before we got to the game. Their joyful smiles were a gift as we went high on a ferris wheel with them, or around on the spinny rides. Getting into the game provided some adventure, as we had to finish our packed lunches before going in - no packed food allowed in the stadium. And the adventures continued trying to find a location big enough for all 50-60 of us, but once we were settled in our seats in the shade, we enjoyed the two games and a musical intermission by Pancho Barraza!
Many slept on the bus ride back to the Foundation, and then we were all able to rest or play games together like “Spike” with the volleyball or soccer on the Foundation’s soccer field.
The Team time that night was special: Ashley led us beautifully in several worship songs and Mike led devotions, starting with girls v boys competing to see who could fit the most teens in an XXL tshirt, then a time of personal confession to the Lord, and then an opening to share about “what needs to be said,” Several beautiful stories were shared, including Ali’s, about leading her young buddy to Christ during the soccer game. Praise the Lord! We then split into our girls and boys smaller groups and continued sharing stories about what is really going on in our lives and how God is working. It was a special time that was well worth the late (early?!) hour that came with it.
Prayer requests:
Pray that as we navigate all the ups and downs, joys and challenges we face on the trip, we will remember to “consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3 NIV
Christine (on behalf of the team)
Postscript: There is also a picture from the day before of Micah “interacting” with some wildlife (a shiny green beetle).
