September 2 until the 8 - A normal week back at the ALC. How I began to miss it those last days while in the States. Praise the Lord that I'm back! We are training for this next year and learning lots of new material for these kids. Everyone is excited about it - including me!
I was also excited to come back and find that the two little girls who live below my apartment are still there. They were to move before I returned but that wasn't God's plan. Almost everyday since they arrive, they have come over and play games or chatted. I have so enjoyed having them over and getting to talk with them about who I am as a missionary and why Jesus is so important to me. Its also a safe place for them to be while home alone each day. They have so little "stuff" but so much joy - so many Bahamian kids do.

This first picture is of Carey and Melanie. Melanie is a friend, old roommate, and one of our counselors at camp summer. Carey is the youngest of those two girls, four years old. Inside she is older than someone her age should be because of things she has gone through.
A bunch of counselors and I took Samantha, who is Carey's older sister, to the beach this summer. She is 12 years old cares for Carey and sometimes their half baby sister. Both of them are sassy young girls who have rarely, if not never, seen Christ like love lived out except from us who let them play games and chat at our homes.
I'm so happy to be back. I loved being in Speculator and seeing so many but I love being here right now!
We are going through some changes here...or so I've been told. I mean kids still come through the doors and hear the gospel. Little things have changed.

The only thing new would be Patmos. Its a discipleship program. Its sounds like torcher training! Not that its bad but...let me tell you what they have planned.
College aged adults come with willing hearts to hear what God would want for them, then they go through lots of trials (3 months worth) to test their faith on what it really means to say "yes" to God. To sing "I surrender all" is one thing but to test your limits with giving God meat for 3 weeks is another thing. Or to not shower but to cover every part of your skin up for a week. Or to...well anymore and I'll being telling you all the trials that the Lord may have you face if He leads you there.
It seems awesome! Kind like bootcamp but for the soul. I know I will be teaching this next year here at the ALC but in little ways I hope to take up as many of these challenges as I can with the program... so if you read on this blog that I'm craving beef desperately don't be shocked! It will be a blast!