Hello All Again!!
So, Kristen is telling me I'm in charge of updating the blog about the Arkansas trip, so here I go. As I'm writing, I'm listening to music that the younger generation in here is playing. Always have to pump it up! Tonight, we had one of our two meetings we have everyday. They told me I had to take notes of all the stories being told, and it made me feel like a reporter. 
I know what not to be in the future. Anywho. So, here are some stories told by the group here in AR-KANSAS!!
First, Ginny and Mark did the devotion. Matthew 5:33-45 were the verses read. It says to love your neighbor as yourself and to be patient. Then they related about having a loving and patient attitude toward the kids and others here in Arkansas. We are all here to for the same reasons, to help out the community of Helena-West Helena.
Then! Kristen asked to tell stories, and EVERYONE said it was very, very, very, very, extremely HOT today. It was very hot. We were all stinky, sweaty, nasty, and dirty. I know, how attractive. 
Ginny Ivey (it's still weird saying that for me) told a story. She was saying that in her 5 years coming to Arkansas, this was the first time she has ever been in the pool or teaching swimming. Tonight, when we were at the pool for the adult swim class, she was standing there with some of the women in the water, and there was a lady who asked her if she would be her teacher. Going into it, Ginny was so tired from the day; but seeing the woman's face light up just because she blew bubbles was a second wind for her.
Kate shared that a man named Frank, who is in his 40s, had his mom call him and tell him to go to the pool because he HAD to be there. Of course, he obeyed his mom. He told Kate that being at the pool was the highlight of his day.
Mark saw the kids lined up today when the fire truck came to spray the water hose on them. He said it was a pleasure seeing the kids running, jumping, and playing in the water.
With it being Kim's first time here in Helena, as a swim teacher during camp, she had a good day. She was telling us that we have to remember the environment we're in. Some of the kids' behaviors sometimes distrupt other children and no one can have a good time. Hopefully, someone along the way will show them that there is another way to handle things besides fighting or back talking.
This is Frances' first mission trip, and she thought "sharing God's love by blowing bubbles" was the coolest thing. Being a swim teacher, she worked with kids that were a level 2 in the camp. She put the kids in a circle, tossed a ball, and played the name game. Then, they tossed the ball again, but this time they had to say things they were thankful for. Some things the kids said: "parents," "fried chicken the other night," "new goggles." Random funny things.
Cindy Douglass talked about a girl, Vikiea who is 19, that she has gotten to know through the passed 3 years. She asks that we lift Vikiea up in prayer since she is going through a hard time in her life and has distanced herself from her family and left her 20 month old little boy to be raised by her grandmother. Cindy got to spend the entire day with this little boy, who is a month older than her son Owen. Cindy was told that he didn't like to be touched, but by the end of the day, he was running up to her giving her hugs and she was glad she got to spend time with him. She said looking at him was like looking at Vikiea.
Darla was a woman Kristen worked with at the registration desk this morning. As they began to talk, they started to build a relationship. Darla told Kristen that if she knew that we were doing what we were doing for the past 5 years, she would have been here years ago. She also said that all the kids should be in kids camp because we talk about the bible and have swimming lessons. Darla would have brought the entire neighborhood of kids to the camp, if she could.
At the end of our meeting, Ginny closed us in prayer.
This was the first day of many more to come! Lots of wonderful things happening and it's not over. Pray for us!
Rachel Church