Zacapo Camotan

You truly would not believe the mountain we climbed in our buses to get to the mountain village of Camotan! Can you picture a dirt road? Can you see it winding up a steep mountain? Ok. Now can you see the crazy steep sides as we looked down the moutain as we inched our way up? You may be getting the picture. Now add me reading and rereading Joshua 1:9: "This is my command." (not God's hope, wish or expectation, mind you - He's talkin' command, here)"Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go," as I hugged my Bible.

Praise God, we obviously made it and were greeted by smiling children and lovely signs welcoming us to their school building. Our team broke into two groups and separated into the two large rooms which made up the school. One team led the children in a worship and teaching time. We could hear the joy as the children sang, "Hallelu, Hallelu, Hellelu, Hallelujah, Praise Ye the Lord!" en Espanol.

My team hurriedly filled 100 gift bags for girls, 100 gift bags for boys and 30 bags of shampooo, bandaids, antiperspirant, etc for the moms. We also organized pain reliever, allergy and cold medicines, antibiotic creams, and vitamins for the mothers. Along one wall we gathered piles of pens, papers, markers, crayons, erasers, pencil sharpeners and soccer balls for the school.

(And I took a few seconds to take pictures of the school kitchen right beside the school. Really look at that kitchen and be amazed)

After worship, the children received their shoes. Uhm... I could cry just thinking about it. Then the moms were given instruction on the different OTC meds while the children received their gifts. It was like Christmas Day - truly. Again, so humbling.
Simple gifts considered to be true treasures... Moms that were so grateful for toothbrushes for their children...Kids chewing on Starbursts in celebration as they showed each other their new things... Hours later, my heart is still pulled... torn... and longing for God to move powerfully in that community.

Tonight I will sleep in the plushest best in the most beautiful room back at the elegant Vista Real, where two huge gala events are taking place: a symposium on IBS (quite ironic given all the Pepto that has been consumed by our group this week) and a wedding. The lights, the music, the gorgeous gowns, the native dance, and the sounds of celebration are all around us. From one extreme to the other, from sun up to sun down.

As I sit here writing and chatting with two friends I made on this trip, one just mentioned the Third Day Song, "Revelation."

"Give me a revelation. Show me what to do. 'Cause I've been tryin' to find my way, I haven't got a clue. Tell me should I stay here or do I need to move. Give me a revelation. I've got nothing without You. Got nothing without You."

And that is where I leave off tonight. This trip is changing me... and I don't even know how. Y'all know my heart's desire, but today that process cannot begin. So I am waiting on the Lord for what's next... waiting on that Revelation.

God is Good. All the time.