This week we have learned the meaning of one important word: flexibility.

When continous changes are being made throughout the day despite our plans, we are reminded that we are not in charge. There is someone greater, who has a more magnificant plan, more amazing than we could ever imagine or understand.

We thank God we can be apart of His plan.

Through a chaotic Sunday, after six hours of traveling, we spent the remainder of the day getting to know the kids through a water fight. We learned how to let go and just play with the kids. To see all the new smiling faces and all the old familiar ones, we knew we had a remarkable week ahead of us.

Thus began our week of VBS.

One important message we are continually trying to remind, or let them hear for the first time, is that they ARE special in Gods eyes. No matter what their background, or where they came from, they are loved by Him, a greater love than any human could even begin to try and comprehend. Because of this incredible love, we are all forgiven. This seemed to hit home for them, as they were able to find great comfort in it.

In the beginning of the week, some of us saw the language barrier as an issue, while God saw it as a benefit. Sometimes, love doesn´t need words. This was one of the moments where I personally realized that God is bigger than any language barrier.

With Him in charge, many of our kids were saved on Tuesday, which was salvation day. As well, we found out that many of the older children were eager to be baptized. Overwhelmed with all that God is doing, we quickly rearranged our plans of the week, so we could be apart of this beautiful, and much larger plan. This is when our word of the week, flexibity, comes in.

During the week, our team has gotten the chance to really get to know the kids through recreation time, crafts, and salvation bracelets, books, and necklaces. Even if they are too young to understand what Jesus has truly done for all of us, we have given them bookmarks with the colors meanings. This way, they can always look back and re-learn, or understand the beauty of Jesus and His love.

Last night we had the privilage of tucking the kids in to bed. Miles, one of our team members, softly played the guitar, while we tried to keep the kids calm to tuck them in. We sang to kids, smothered them in love and kisses, read to them, or told them a story. It didn´t really matter if they could understand what we were saying, our presence was enough.

So, as we begin our last day here in Xela and our last day of VBS, we hope to end it the way God has planned, and not the way we do.