Hi Everyone!
Well, it's become very obvious just how big a project this is and we are working hard to get as much done as possible before we leave. This morning Nick and Phil started the day super early down at the Olive Branch, sanding and mudding the walls and hoping to get ahead. The rest of us joined them at about 7:30am (so pretty early too!!!). Tasks were just to carry on painting, mudding and sanding....our usual daily tasks. At 9am we met with all the leaders of the mission kid’s ministry for an 
hour of prayer. It was a great time to really hear some of the struggles that these kids face and to be able to pray with the team for them was a real privilege. It has become very clear just how important this ministry is. These kids face very different challenges from any other kids while going through all the normal trials of growing up. The staff here are so dedicated to coming along side them, mentoring them and just supporting them through all of those challenges.
hour of prayer. It was a great time to really hear some of the struggles that these kids face and to be able to pray with the team for them was a real privilege. It has become very clear just how important this ministry is. These kids face very different challenges from any other kids while going through all the normal trials of growing up. The staff here are so dedicated to coming along side them, mentoring them and just supporting them through all of those challenges. After prayer we headed back to the main JAARS building to see a demonstration of the Venicular media services. This includes all the audio and video recording that they do and how that is used around the world to spread the Gospel of Christ. It was amazing to see all the different ways they get audio and visual recordings to so many people in their own language and we were able to take part in a demonstration showing how easy it is to record different voices over the same video in as many languages as possible. These movies can then be sent anywhere in the world by many different means, they can even be downloaded and shown on mobile phones! It is incredible how God is using 
technology to spread His gospel to the corners of the earth! After that we had the chance for a quick trip to the alphabet museum here, which tells the history of language and the written word from it's very beginning, and how that is used to translate God's word today.
technology to spread His gospel to the corners of the earth! After that we had the chance for a quick trip to the alphabet museum here, which tells the history of language and the written word from it's very beginning, and how that is used to translate God's word today. After lunch it was back to the Olive Branch to keep plowing on with the job in hand and things are really coming on. We are all pretty tired but God is giving us all the strength we need....although someone (Caleb) was caught napping by the pool!!! We have almost finished painting the large room and almost all
the mudding and sanding is done in the second room!!
the mudding and sanding is done in the second room!! In the evening we had the chance to host a BBQ for all the High School kids that Bret and his team minister to. There were about 60 of them and they were loud and fun! We got to eat and eat before joining them in a variety of games including sand volleyball, basketball, whiffleball and ultimate Frisbee, and then there was a short devotion before heading back to the apartments. It was such a great time and we had a so many opportunities to chat to the kids, hear their stories and just get a sense of what it is like to be a
missionary kid and all the opportunities and challenges that it brings. They are a unique and amazing group of young men and women and it was a joy and privilege to spend time with them. It was a fantastic night.
missionary kid and all the opportunities and challenges that it brings. They are a unique and amazing group of young men and women and it was a joy and privilege to spend time with them. It was a fantastic night. Thought for today: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; 3 A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; 8 A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.
5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; 8 A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. God tells of so many different things that there are times and seasons for but He never mentions that there are specific times for worship, service, or obedience! That is because were are to always obey, worship and serve Him whenever and wherever we are, in all times and in all circumstances.
Thank you for all your continued prayers and support. Colds and allergies continue but God is giving us all the strength we need.
Yours in His service North Carolina Team
