"I Love to Praise Him"

This Sunday we had the joy of worshipping with all the children from the five different homes here in Battambang. The service started at 8 a.m. and we arrived there early to the great delight of all our children who came to the bus with jubilant smiles and "good mornings" followed by many hugs and more beautiful smiles. The children love to tell us "I love you" and we can't have enough of that.

During the service Matt, Steven, Renee and Lindsay sang a song but the main attraction of the morning were all the children who performed beautiful songs, with choreography and dance. We, of course, are biased because we think our children did the best... A group of girls from "Grace Place" presented a number in which they showed the reality of the resurrection of Christ. When they lifted one of the girls up in a cross-like position, the audience cheered. I had goosebumps when I saw that and some of our team members were crying as they saw it.

After the service we hang out with the children and the music crew took over. There was much fun and singing, the children learned the songs in English so fast and sang so enthusiastically, it was hard to stop praising. We all wanted to make that moment last but the day moved on as we had to come back to the hotel, finish packing and got ready for the events in the afternoon.

We were fed by the children and the wonderful staff at "Grace Place," and enjoyed a delicious lunch while sitting on the floor of the home... that is, some of the more nimble among us were able to sit for the meal. The hospitality was so wonderful, the fellowship so sweet and we didn't mind that it was hot and sticky(though we noticed it... and others around us did too. We ate with great thankfulness in our hearts.

                                                                               

What happened on Sunday was that we repacked all our suitcases and hauled them to only two rooms that we kept in our hotel and then went to "Grace Place"after dinner to present the gifts our sponsors had sent with us and spend the night at the home. As it turns out, some of the team members, after the gift presentations, came back to the hotel. There are some who are not feeling well but the majority is at the home now (it's pass 3:00 a.m. here!).

                                                                               
Now get this: we also had the privilege to lead a three fold communion with all our children and staff at the home. It was completely different than a typical communion at Wooster Grace, but it was beautiful to see how our children participated. Many of us drank juice from the same cups because they had so few cups available. We wiped the cup every time someone drank it and kept passing it around. The children were so good!

                                                   

We also had only four basins with water to wash the feet of 50+ people but it didn't matter. The expression on the faces of some of our children when we turned to wash their feet or allowed them to wash someone else's feet was absolutely delightful. We truly believe that many of them understood the meaning behind such beautiful symbols and we hope to do that again every time we come back.

Finally, the team will cook breakfast and serve our children later this morning. Those who came back to the hotel are going to ride the bus back to "Grace Place" and assist in the cooking. Jill Kane has been so wonderful helping us get several of the ingredients we needed for communion and the breakfast this morning and she and Kevin will be heading up the cooking efforts. We can't wait to see how the kids will react. Oh yes, Jill also spent a long time translating the notes that many of the sponsors wrote to their children (they love to receive those notes!) and she is also spending the night at the home!

All in all this was a fabulous Sunday and we are so humbled to have had the privilege to be here. Please continue to pray for Lindsay who is still not 100% and for Heidi who is also feeling weak right now.

We appreciate your prayers!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade