Hello Niekerkians,
I speak for everyone when I say that we all enjoyed our sleep, no matter how much (or how little) we got. Our first meal for the day was simply cereal, milk, yogurt, and fruit. After breakfast we headed out on our first adventure of the trip. VBS! It started with the kids pouring into the church. When we first sat down, it was a bit uncomfortable, but thankfully the leaders pushed us out of our comfort zones and I had the chance to sit with the people of Panama. The kids were shy as we, with our light skin and hair, sat with them. Soon, after asking them a few questions (using the little Spanish that I had learned so far) they warmed right up to me and the rest of THE FAM (youth group). I would describe the events that happened with these kids as chaos, but it was extremely lovable. The kids enjoyed the company of our loud, Niekerk style, singing and they got super excited about the relay game that we had planned; a game based on the story of Joseph and his multi-color coat. The kids raced to color lines of Joseph's coat. The gentleman in charge provided a lively commentary that added joy to us as we watched the kids compete.
Next we headed off to the mall for a delicious lunch of chicken, pork, vegetables, plantains, and rice. After finishing our lunch we wandered around the mall and found that their stuff is very similar to ours. Another adventure we were able to take on this hot day was over to a sports camp to play soccer (or as they call it here: futbol). Even though the heat was "hotter than your average Michigan day" we enjoyed playing with the kids. They were extremely skilled. In fact, it took a few games before we could score. While we rested Emma Jo, Lauren, and myself were able to share our testimonies with the kids. They were so thankful to hear our experiences with the Lord. Then WE got the chance to hear one of their stories. The leader of the group shared how he strayed from God a little, but his family kept praying for him and he came back to teach these kids.
Our final activity of the day was tasting the Panama pizza. It tasted similar to that of an American pizza but with a different sauce. We all had the chance to try the pizza with chicken, ham, and pepperoni. Back in our room we talked about our "one word" summary for the experiences of our day. Daryl talked about how a hymn reminded him that Niekerk is part of a larger body of all Christians, including those we worshiped with today. Thanks for all your prayers and we miss you!
Buena noche! (good night)
Emma Vander Meulen (and THE FAM)
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