God is in the details

Well, the painting team finished painting the orphanage (carefully outlining a huge mural in the living room) and it was so fun to see the staff & kids’ reactions. A fresh coat of paint sure brightens up a space and feels happier.

The team playing with the kids taught them to blow bubbles. It took a few of the little ones quite a while to figure out how to blow–especially without dumping out their little containers of bubbles first–but when they finally got it, they were so excited, it was the cutest thing.

The sports team continues to manage highly competitive and aggressive boys, sometimes acting a referee and sometimes comforting those who end up on the wrong side of the aggression.

We had an unexpected thundershower in the afternoon, which of course was the perfect opportunity for our crazy kids to practice their soccer skills (or run around soaking wet and shouting themselves hoarse).

Later in the afternoon after the SALT training sessions was an opportunity with the Albanian and Canadian youth together to share stories of God’s work in our lives and pray for each other. Some teens shared about their experience on the trip so far, and Canta (a youth who will be baptized soon) shared her story of coming to faith. Every time we worship or pray with our friends in Sauk, we hear the languages combining into a richer song of praise to our amazing and huge God.

As we’re halfway through the trip, the lack of sleep is beginning to catch up with us and we’ve all been working on growing in patience. As a result, there have been some hard but tender moments of grace and forgiveness as we figure out how to live in God’s love as a family together.

See below for photos–hold your mouse over a photo to see the caption

With love,

the SALT Squad