WOW!!! I just got back from my first missions trip. It was very amazing. I went with my school(Calvary Christian Academy) and it was so much fun. This was my first missions trip and it was truly life changing. We had to be at the school at 5 a.m. and we went to the airport. Right when we got of the plane we started missioning. We arrived at the ALC(Adventure. Learning. Camp=place we stayed at) and got unpacked and settled in. Then we did team games and then took a trip to the canal. The canal was a "beach" where the locals go. To get to the canal you had to go down a long path with trash and stuff everywhere. Although signs said "no littering" everyone did. There were appliances, clothes, beds, food wrappers, dead animals, and many other things. The canal was amazing though. It was so much better than any of the beaches we have here. The water was crystal clear and you could see everything. We swam to a cliff and jumped off. It was exciting!!! Then we returned to the ALC and ate and eventualy went to bed. Every night before we went to bed we did devotionals and played knockout. My cabin had the best counslors because they were young and fun!!
The next day we went to a local school. It was called Gambier Village. Right when we arrived in the driveway the kids(in their awsum pink uniforms) got all excited and started telling their friends. We were their the whole school day. We bonded with the kids, made balloon animals, face paintings, danced, sang songs, had lunch, and spoke to the kids about God. One little boy came up to me and gave me a coin and said,"don't forget me." I was amazed that these little kids were so excited to see american kids. At the end of the day none of us wanted to leave. Before we left we cleaned up the trash around the school and picked up a little. Before we borded the bus we went across the street to a beach type place where some of the kids followed us. Then when we boarded the bus and some of the kids tried to get on the bus with us! We told them they could not come with us and it was hard. Then we went to another beach and talked about our day and played on the "SLINGSHOT TREE!" This is no ordinary tree. Someone holds on to this trees branch and everyone else pulls down and then lets go. A few people tried the tree out and then a girl named Natalia tried it. She is a small girl and like 40 people were holding down. When we let go she flew so high in the air and then crashed to the ground. After this no one could use the tree again. Natalia had landed ion her hip and had sprained her wrist. She is ok though. We went back to the camp and eventually went to bed.
"Fiest of Nations"
The fiest of nations is a dinner we had Tuesday night which let us know what it was like for how some countries eat. They split us up into 3 groups: one group of 4 (got the american fancy dinner), another larger group(got to eat like a smaller portion of the world), and then a very large group which I was in(got to eat like most of the world). The samll group got steak and salad and a baked potato, and ice cream. They got waited on and had a candlelight dinner. When they did not eat all of their food they threw it into the garbage nearest us. The medium group got a bowl of rice and beans with a fork and water. Then my group got a tiny bit of rice in a bowl which we had to eat with our hands while sitting in the dirty floor. We all learned not to complain about what we get to eat and to not waste food.
Wendesday we had the opportunity of acting like tourists for a little bit. We got to go to the straw market and bargain. I was fortunately with my friends who were good bargainers so they did the bargaining because I stink at it. After the straw market we went to Hillcrest Academy. This is a Church and School. At the school we got to bond with the kids, paint their school and rocks(i know it sounds weird but that is what they play on), repaint their swing sets and repair the only swing they had, clean the bathrooms, and paint the roof outside the church. It was very fun and we loved the kids here as much as the ones at Gambier Village. Then we got back to camp and got to go to the ALC(Adventure Learning Centre= place where they tought kids; part of the Camp we stayed at just across the street) and they served us a Bahamian dinner. It was delicious.
Thursday!!! Today was probably the most lifechanging part of the day. They split us up into two groups and my group got to go to the ALC(Centre) and clean up. This was alot of work but it was fun doing it with alot of friends. we organized pipes, cleaned buses, cleaned under storage things and many other things. The whole time we were being attacted by bees and wasps and bugs. Then, when the groups switched spts, my group got to go to the All Saints Aids Camp. When we got of our bus and headed up the hill we were not prepared for what we would see. Thir were these dying people with aids and other diseases living in super small "rooms." These "rooms" had no air, a bed, a T.V. and a drawer type thing. The conditions outside of the "room" were horribe. There was chipped paint and broken wood. No one was really in charge, only a man named Tony. Tony had aids and tyberculosis. He had a little girl named Antinique. When he showed us the baby we all fell in love. The baby was adorable. Then Tony made a comment saying take the baby because he did not want her and did not care what happened to her. Since he had given the baby the disease he knew she would die from it and he felt reponsible. Tony was in a wheelchair and had a good spirit. I have many stories of him that are too long to type. We also met Mrs. Moxey who had been at the aids camp for 26years! The people said she most likely would not be back next year. Mrs. Moxey "made" the Aids Camp! She was the most joyful and happy person I have ever met and she was full of God. She read us scripture, sang, and praised God. She was so awsum and indescribable. I can not wait to see her again in heaven. We also met Lofton who was bed riden, King Arthur who sang us many songs, Andrew who was hilarious and loved Cheetos, and other wonderful people. When we asked all of these people what they wanted that we could bring them back they all said either food or soda. These people all knew they would die soon, were all lonely, all saw where they would be buried, and all lived in horrible conditions. Yet they were the happiest peopel I have ever met and the most Godly people I have ever met. Calvary Chapels singles ministry has decided to take over the Aids Camp and transform it. You can read more about their actions at http://younityproject.wordpress.com/. Then when we returned to the Centre that night we got to experience the only Planetarium in the Bahamas and bond with each other.
Last day Friday :(
Friday was our last day. We were not ready to stop so soon though. Before we left we took a bunch of Orphan kids to the beach where we buried each other, swam and ate pizza. It was sad to know this was the last mission we would do in the bahamas. Once we returned to camp we packed the bus and claened up the camp and headed for the airport. We would be back in America soon, but no one wanted to leave.
This missions trip really opened my eyes to what most of the world faces and to what some people live like. I really want to do more and can not wait till our next missions trip! Each night we had a camp fire meeting where we pondered on the day and a lesson from Mr. Ellis. The last night we all had a pine cone that represented our burdens and sins. We cast them into the fire which represented us giving our worries to God and leaving them in the fire. It was an awsume trip and I would do it 100 times over. If you would like to read the trips blog: http://ccabahamas08.blogspot.com/. Thanks for reading! (picture slideshow under websites i love(on right side of blog)!)
The next day we went to a local school. It was called Gambier Village. Right when we arrived in the driveway the kids(in their awsum pink uniforms) got all excited and started telling their friends. We were their the whole school day. We bonded with the kids, made balloon animals, face paintings, danced, sang songs, had lunch, and spoke to the kids about God. One little boy came up to me and gave me a coin and said,"don't forget me." I was amazed that these little kids were so excited to see american kids. At the end of the day none of us wanted to leave. Before we left we cleaned up the trash around the school and picked up a little. Before we borded the bus we went across the street to a beach type place where some of the kids followed us. Then when we boarded the bus and some of the kids tried to get on the bus with us! We told them they could not come with us and it was hard. Then we went to another beach and talked about our day and played on the "SLINGSHOT TREE!" This is no ordinary tree. Someone holds on to this trees branch and everyone else pulls down and then lets go. A few people tried the tree out and then a girl named Natalia tried it. She is a small girl and like 40 people were holding down. When we let go she flew so high in the air and then crashed to the ground. After this no one could use the tree again. Natalia had landed ion her hip and had sprained her wrist. She is ok though. We went back to the camp and eventually went to bed.
"Fiest of Nations"
The fiest of nations is a dinner we had Tuesday night which let us know what it was like for how some countries eat. They split us up into 3 groups: one group of 4 (got the american fancy dinner), another larger group(got to eat like a smaller portion of the world), and then a very large group which I was in(got to eat like most of the world). The samll group got steak and salad and a baked potato, and ice cream. They got waited on and had a candlelight dinner. When they did not eat all of their food they threw it into the garbage nearest us. The medium group got a bowl of rice and beans with a fork and water. Then my group got a tiny bit of rice in a bowl which we had to eat with our hands while sitting in the dirty floor. We all learned not to complain about what we get to eat and to not waste food.
Wendesday we had the opportunity of acting like tourists for a little bit. We got to go to the straw market and bargain. I was fortunately with my friends who were good bargainers so they did the bargaining because I stink at it. After the straw market we went to Hillcrest Academy. This is a Church and School. At the school we got to bond with the kids, paint their school and rocks(i know it sounds weird but that is what they play on), repaint their swing sets and repair the only swing they had, clean the bathrooms, and paint the roof outside the church. It was very fun and we loved the kids here as much as the ones at Gambier Village. Then we got back to camp and got to go to the ALC(Adventure Learning Centre= place where they tought kids; part of the Camp we stayed at just across the street) and they served us a Bahamian dinner. It was delicious.
Thursday!!! Today was probably the most lifechanging part of the day. They split us up into two groups and my group got to go to the ALC(Centre) and clean up. This was alot of work but it was fun doing it with alot of friends. we organized pipes, cleaned buses, cleaned under storage things and many other things. The whole time we were being attacted by bees and wasps and bugs. Then, when the groups switched spts, my group got to go to the All Saints Aids Camp. When we got of our bus and headed up the hill we were not prepared for what we would see. Thir were these dying people with aids and other diseases living in super small "rooms." These "rooms" had no air, a bed, a T.V. and a drawer type thing. The conditions outside of the "room" were horribe. There was chipped paint and broken wood. No one was really in charge, only a man named Tony. Tony had aids and tyberculosis. He had a little girl named Antinique. When he showed us the baby we all fell in love. The baby was adorable. Then Tony made a comment saying take the baby because he did not want her and did not care what happened to her. Since he had given the baby the disease he knew she would die from it and he felt reponsible. Tony was in a wheelchair and had a good spirit. I have many stories of him that are too long to type. We also met Mrs. Moxey who had been at the aids camp for 26years! The people said she most likely would not be back next year. Mrs. Moxey "made" the Aids Camp! She was the most joyful and happy person I have ever met and she was full of God. She read us scripture, sang, and praised God. She was so awsum and indescribable. I can not wait to see her again in heaven. We also met Lofton who was bed riden, King Arthur who sang us many songs, Andrew who was hilarious and loved Cheetos, and other wonderful people. When we asked all of these people what they wanted that we could bring them back they all said either food or soda. These people all knew they would die soon, were all lonely, all saw where they would be buried, and all lived in horrible conditions. Yet they were the happiest peopel I have ever met and the most Godly people I have ever met. Calvary Chapels singles ministry has decided to take over the Aids Camp and transform it. You can read more about their actions at http://younityproject.wordpress.com/. Then when we returned to the Centre that night we got to experience the only Planetarium in the Bahamas and bond with each other.
Last day Friday :(
Friday was our last day. We were not ready to stop so soon though. Before we left we took a bunch of Orphan kids to the beach where we buried each other, swam and ate pizza. It was sad to know this was the last mission we would do in the bahamas. Once we returned to camp we packed the bus and claened up the camp and headed for the airport. We would be back in America soon, but no one wanted to leave.
This missions trip really opened my eyes to what most of the world faces and to what some people live like. I really want to do more and can not wait till our next missions trip! Each night we had a camp fire meeting where we pondered on the day and a lesson from Mr. Ellis. The last night we all had a pine cone that represented our burdens and sins. We cast them into the fire which represented us giving our worries to God and leaving them in the fire. It was an awsume trip and I would do it 100 times over. If you would like to read the trips blog: http://ccabahamas08.blogspot.com/. Thanks for reading! (picture slideshow under websites i love(on right side of blog)!)
