After being home from China for 10 days my family took off for Denver to a mission trip led by Global Encounter Ministries. Donna and I drove out with the kids on a Thursday and Todd flew out that next Friday after work. The kids did awesome with the 15 hour drive, they honestly couldn't have done any better. At one point I heard Haven ask how much longer before we were in Denver and Jadon leaned over to her and said, "remember mommy said it was going to be a loooonggg drive, I don't think it's been long enough. You will be okay." I loved it, encouraging his sister.
The kids have been counting down to Denver since several months out. We went last year and they absolutely loved it. Jude was just a few months old last year so it was going to be a different experience for him.
Our week was definitely blessed. Todd got to speak at 3 of the morning worship services, we spent our evenings going to the different sites and letting the kids participate in that group's ministry while I walked around and took pictures. It was a blessing to see all these students loving on the kids.
Our first night of ministry we went to the city park and another park, both just down the street from the church we slept at all week. I got to take pictures of some precious little kids and Todd got to stop a fight and physically walk a kid off the park. All was good until a mother of a couple of the kids attending the Bible club started rounding up her children. We weren't done or getting ready to be done, so I asked if everything was okay. She didn't know that Todd was my husband and she looked at me and said that she was worried that the kid Todd just confronted was going to go home and get his older, bigger brother who has a gang and come back for that guy (as she pointed at my husband).
That is not at all something you want to hear. I'm looking around wandering if I should grab the kids and at least put them in the car. I said something to Todd and of course he sees no problem... men! So, we have a watch out group and then he's spotted. The kid comes back with a group, we are told by locals his brother is not with him. Thank you God for your protection because his brother was not home when the kids went to find him.
That was the beginning story to D, that's the kids name. The rest of the story includes him coming back to Bible Club on Wednesday, the night the gospel was shared. D along with a couple of friends were led to Christ that night. The next evening at Family Night D went up to the youth pastor that had been at the park all week and asked prayer for strength to live his life for Christ amidst his environment and prayer for his brother because he really needed this. Brings tears to my eyes even now. So, if you think of D please join us in praying for him and his family.
D is the one in the Colorado Rockies hat. This picture was taken at Family Night, the reason for the painted face on his friend. 
Another amazing God thing was the evening of Family Night. Isaiah Caldwell had a kid come to him with questions and he was led to Jesus. He then said my cousin needs this, left went and brought his cousin to Isaiah, who was led to Jesus. After praying he said my brother needs this, left went brought his brother to Isaiah and he was led to Jesus. This went on 2 more times until there were 5 kids in that family saved that night. Wow, isn't that what we read in the Bible, one person comes to Jesus and their entire family is saved. It was an amazing night of God showing Himself. We were in a highly Muslim area and we got to see one Muslim man saved and planted many more seeds with the children that were allowed to join in the activities at the parks.
Some pictures of the kids that came and Jadon and Haven enjoying the Bible Clubs.
This is the Pastor and his wife of the church we slept at. They are an amazing couple. They have a huge heart for those around them. Pray for them as well, they now have the task of making contact with all the families of the kids we that came to the Bible Clubs.
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