Day 2

“My Father’s house has many rooms...” John 14:2

After worshipping at El Ebenezer this morning, we visited the farmer’s market and mercado. We refrained from buying any fruits or the meat (was it fresh?).

Once we finished lunch of tasty pupusas in Aguas del Padre, we partook in our traditional tour of La Providencia. Mizael spoke (while Douglas translated) a bit of the history and of the vision and where LP is today. We visited the second family home where Beatrice introduced her children (Mario, her husband and oldest on, José Mario we gone). She asked the children to show us their rooms and instantly these precious little ones sprinted with excitement to their room. What a wonderful picture of God's grace that “former orphans” could now enjoy their own room.

Another wonderful moment happened as we once again visited the same nursing home we have visited for the third straight year. Judy had a wonderful idea. After gathering the twenty or so residents (almost all of which have been there since our first time with them in 2010) and singing a few worship songs in Spanish, Judy had us blow up many balloons. Her instructions were simple: everyone was to keep the balloons from touching the ground. In a moment, these somewhat docile elderly folks became children before our very eyes. Balloons filled the air. Steve accompanied the joyful chaos with some fun music. Laughter filled the room. One woman was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Dave taught us to make balloon animals. But our failed attempts instead turned to balloon hats, which each resident enthusiastically wore. I hope that when I am in their stage of life, that I, too, would be willing to play with balloons and wear balloon hats.

For these folks, who have essentially been neglected, my prayer is that each of them today were remined by this momentary bit of joy of the eternal joy that will one day, possibly soon, have with Christ.