Mom, can I bring a kid or two home with me? (by Caitlin Taylor)

This morning after breakfast we read Philippians 2 for our devotional. It was encouraging, yet at the same time challenging. Paul challenged the church at Philippi to "do everything without complaining or arguing." Today, that was what motivated us to forget how sore we are from holding kids or shoveling or building, and to remember that we are called to "shine like stars".
We returned to the same field that has hopefully been mentioned in previous blogs to finish putting in goalposts. While five or six people worked on that, the rest of us played with the innumerable children fighting for our attention. I love having so many people to play with. We san songs like "A-roos-ta-sha" and "Boom-chicka-boom" and had piggy-back races. At one point I had four or five girls playing wih my hair, three sitting on my lap, and who knows how many boys running around me in circles. A few days ago this situation would have intimidated me, but now I just smile and start singing some random camp song.
When we came back for VBC, it was starting to look stormy, so we played outside for a little while and then went inside the church for the actual program. Lindsey and Meghan did an awesome job of keeping things organized and moving. The band is also amazing, but pray for them to not lose their voices. Becky, Kristin and I did a puppet skit, and then everyone made gospel bead bracelets. It never actually rained, so we went back outside to play for a little while longer. There are a few girls that I've been hanging out with for the past few days, and one of them, named Junitha, gave me a big sloppy kiss on the cheek.
We came back, started planning for tomorrow's Fourth of July celebration, and ate dinner. Soon we'll go over to Glory Hall for YWAM's community worship night.
Every time we say goodbye to the kids they all have their arms wrapped around and we're being pulled in every direction. The feeling is similar to being caught in a riptide at the beach, just a lot more loving. I wonder what it will be like tomorrow, when we say our final goodbye until heaven.
God has taught me a lot about love and self-sacrifice so far this trip. I don't know a whole lot about what others have been learning, but I can assure you that your support, financially or prayerfully, has not been wasted.
See you in a week,
Caitlin : )