May 2017!

May was a month of preparation for summer. We had a few guests at the beginning of the month, and our "normal" program keep moving along. We used the time to work out the day to day schedule of the summer teams, shop for materials needed, and do a few fun things like celebrate some staff birthdays. The summer really kicked off on May 25th with the Biola team. We usually say that we know that we are on the right track with serving God, by how much opposition Satan throws our way at the beginning of the summer. If we measure in that way, we are going to see God do some amazing things this summer, because just about every obstacle that could come happened during the Biola team! They were delayed in London, we had lost luggage, middle of the night airport runs, directors of the orphanages changing the schedules over and over, broken down vehicles, and a fender bender, just for the highlights! Despite the obstacles we had a great time ministering together with the Biola team. The foundation of the Biola team comes out of the Symphonic Winds Orchestra so whenever Biola is here, we have a strong music emphasis during the time with the kids. This year we did Children's Day Carnivals in 4 locations, we had end of the year celebrations for the music and the character classes, and we had youth group bonfires with the Peris and Voluntari orphanages. The team members also helped with crafts and story time, sat in on individual music lessons, had a musical petting zoo for the kids to try out different instruments, did a concert at Peris, used music therapy in several locations, taught conducting and played with and loved on our kids. Romans 8:31 "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"