The Tidwells: From A (merica) to Z (ambia)...and Back: GracePoint Team 2018

Thursday, July 5, 2018

GracePoint Team 2018

As we sat around the campfire with the GracePoint team the other night, I began to feel so overwhelmed. You see, back in May of 2010, GracePoint Church was our very first volunteer team at New Day. There was one small building here, and literally nothing else. They camped in 2 man pup tents on the ground, took showers out of bags that we sat in the sun all day to heat up, and cooked around a fire at night. Since that time, GracePoint has sent many more teams, and as we sat around the fire looking into the flames, names began to enter my mind from through the years.

Mike Manning on his hands and knees drawing the chalk lines for our house. Sara Lou teaching a sewing class in the shelter. Jill Marley hauling bricks one by one from a wheelbarrow to our first orphan house. A guy named Brian who brought us SO MANY bags of chocolate chips. Rob, who hated leaving his family behind, but came back with them later. Ashley and LeAudra who spent a week painting ceiling boards. Lorraine Hunt, with stage 4 cancer, double-dutching at Kids Club. She's now with Jesus. Caleb McDaniel teaching Sunday School. Jeremy "The Body", and waiting to see if he was going to propose to Andrea at Victoria Falls. Carly and her mural. Elle playing the guitar around the campfire. David and Patty and their late night trip to Macha with Blu to sew up Dave's hand that ended with a run-in with a cow. And so many more faces..servants..stories.

And now, 8 years later, GracePoint Church is the last team our family will host at New Day. The fact that God made that complete circle for us is no coincidence. The fact that Mike & Lori McDaniel, who lead GracePoint Church but are former missionaries in Zambia and jumped at the chance to send that first team to help build an orphanage is no coincidence. God is a big God.

So when we sat around the fire last night and Sierra led us in "Reckless Love," I was reminded that God has been in control from the beginning, and He will remain in control. He knew in May 2010 when we greeted that first GracePoint team that in July 2018, our family would say goodbye to a different GracePoint team. We didn't know, but He did. He is a God of order, and that brings me such peace. And thankfulness.

You are loved, our GracePoint friends through the years!

The team getting ready for VBS in the Ark!

Cason, Blessing, and Shepherd taking a walk!

Aunt Chipo had more fun than the kids at VBS!

Chloe cooking..something...at a village!

Sofia and Katie (who don't sew!) helping Jo Anne make new curtains for the school!

Jo Anne made beautiful curtains!

David led Red Light, Green Light at VBS Rec!

Music/Snacks is always a popular rotation at VBS!

Russ & David worked hard on school bookshelves!

We had a 2 day holiday this week from school - what to do but scrape paint off of floors?!

Blu & David had fun (and were loud!) leading VBS Rec!

I can't even describe to you how exhausted Blu is right now, but he still was his crazy, energetic self at VBS, coming up with crazy Tonga chants for each group to go with their color flag!