This morning, everyone woke up to the familiar drumming of steady rain and the earthy smell of overcast skies. It felt just like back home in Seattle! The gloomy weather made for a slow morning and long sips of coffee, but the excitement of finishing the week’s work projects overshadowed the misty forecast. The schedule for today was a near repeat of Tuesday, with the goal of each group completing their tasks at Canopy and the CareCenter Ministries house. After a quick stop at Walmart to grab a few needed supplies, the team embraced the rain and got to work quickly. At Canopy, the students built the frames for the garden beds and braved the mud to evenly spread the topsoil. At the CareCenter Ministry house, the group finished moving out the old furniture, cleaned the kitchen, and prepared the rest of the rooms for the remodel.

Lunch was enjoyed indoors back at the church, as the team dried off and changed clothes for another afternoon at Canopy with their students. Relationships continued to grow as each group asked insightful questions, but the difficult conversations and harrowing stories led to many opportunities to pray and trust in the hope of God’s redeeming grace. The team continues to display great boldness and resiliency through growing fatigue and the emotional weight of a long week. It has been such a blessing to see God faithfully sustain the team and provide enough strength for each day. 

Dinner provided more time for the team to share stories as they laughed over rice, beans, and garlic bread. The team debriefs capped a somber evening, as the team processed their frustrations and was reminded of the providence of God in equipping each person for the work He has prepared for them. Everyone is looking forward to a restful night of sleep and tomorrow’s activities! Please be praying for health for the team, evangelistic opportunities throughout the day, and wisdom in navigating heavy conversations during our last day with the students at Canopy. To God be the glory!