"one of the best days of my life"

The 3 teenage boys went out to play and built these crosses...we later found out they were on the site plan for Acacia village...God at work!!
The kids with the workers after playing ball...such happy love filled faces!
Max gave away his shoes to this friend...
Bennett gave away his shoes to his new friend too...

Brothers!!!

Christine wowed the guys with her great volleyball skills!! They thought it was so great that a girl could do that!!


This particular day was just magical. We all felt that it was a day touched by God and one of the best days any of us had ever had...REALLY...we all said that at least once that day!!

We all worked at Acacia village side by side with these amazing people. Today the boys finished a bit early and went out to play. They decided to build a soccer goal. When they lifted the first log, Bennett said "this would make a cool cross". The boys (Max, Mitch and Bennett) then built 3 crosses before building the soccer goal. We later came to find out that the 3 crosses were actually on the original plans for Acacia Village...these sweet "coincidences" kept happening throughout the trip. Just confirming that we were seeing and doing all that we were meant to by God!!

Once the boys had built the soccer goal, the workers all gathered around and started to play with them. Christine then picked up a soccer ball and started playing volleyball with another group. We spent the afternoon, after work hours, playing with the guys. It was so moving because no one had ever paid attention to them before and here we were playing with them and loving them as our friends. Our 4 teenagers were so moved. It was a life changing day for them. After the impromptu games, each of our guys gave away the shoes off their feet when they saw the beat up shoes the workers were wearing. They all came home barefoot...so incredible!! They saw how these lovely guys with nothing were really just like them. They all shared their feelings on the bus all the way back to Addis. It was one of the highlights on the trip. The amount of love felt that day, on that field, was incredible. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.