Thursday . . .

Thursday started with devotions at 7:30 am.  Krisie got to lead us.  We have gone all this time with no laundry being done, and it was supposed to be dropped off at a laundromat Wednesday but somehow it stayed in the back of the van instead (miscommunication problem).  So that was top priority today as most people have little clothing left that isn't wet and muddy.  We did tons of painting today at the building.  I think we have given up on the sprayer and are just doing it all by hand now.  I should mention that the sun finally appeared today.  We were able to warm up a bit and it felt so wonderful to feel the sun!!  So we were able to have people painting outside and inside.  We got a lot done, but still had a lot to do by the time we stopped for lunch and then packed up for VBS.  This is our last VBS.  The plan is to go along with Dan tomorrow for home visits.  This is where he visits with children in their shacks that have been coming to his Saturday program.  He checks to see how things are going with their families and brings food etc. 

Thankfully because of the sun, we were able to hold VBS on a dryer patch of land with less mud.  It went fabulously.  We had 140 kids.  They are starting to learn the rules about sitting quietly which is good.  We played a game where we put spray whipped cream all over one kids face and two others had to throw "cheetos" and try to get them to stick to his face.  It was so funny!  The kids just wanted to eat the "cheetos" though instead of throwing them.  Poor kids!   We did a bigger skit with the puppets today all about heaven and how you get in there.  You can't buy your way into heaven, you can't earn your way into heaven by being a good person, and can't force your way with your strength.  There is only one way, Jesus.  He has a ticket to heaven that he wants to give everyone, but we have to ask for it etc.  So good!  We also did the salvation bracelets today.  We broke everyone into smaller groups of like 10-12 kids and spread out and sat with our group of kids and helped them put them together.  They loved it and it was so fun to have some more individual time with them.  I loved this!

After VBS we had to go back to the building and unload the tent and equiptment, and pick us Bill who always stays behind to keep working on the building.  Then we raced home to get cleaned up for dinner.  Rachel and Dan took us out to a fish restaurant tonight for dinner.  It was really good.  Then we raced back home and five of us changed back into our dirty work clothes and went back to the building to work.  I think we got there around 10pm.  John, Matt, and Jake worked on the floors while Nick and I finished up some painting.  We worked until 2am and then headed home.  Not far from the building we stopped to get gas.  John told the attendant (you don't pump your own gas here) that he wanted Diesel and to fill it up.  A minute later the guy asked him again, diesel?  John said yes, fill it up all the way with just diesel.  SO the guy did very obediently.  I should note that this is the first time we have had to get any gas for this rental car.  We paid our bill and left a generous tip.  At 2am there is no one on the roads here.  It is just deserted.  We managed to go almost a mile before the engine completely died.  I mentioned that if the car took gasoline that could be why it just died on us.  One of the guys ran around to the gas cap and sure enough we had a gasoline engine that we just filled up with 36 liters of diesel fuel.  Oh no!  So I called Ross on my cell phone and explained what had happened.  We woke him up, and I felt bad about that.  We said we would push the car back to the gas station (we didn't realize that we had gotten so far) and if he could just meet us there.  So I hopped into the drivers seat and took over the steering while all the guys pushed and pushed and pushed.  We had only been going about a minute before a security truck came by.  He stopped and asked if we needed help.  We explained what we had done, and where we were going, so he went back to the station to see if they had a pump to get the diesel fuel out.  He raced back to us and said that no they didn't have one.  We didn't really care, we just needed to go there.  So he proceeds to tell us that we are in a very bad area and that men will hide in the bushes along the road here and jump out and attack you.  So he said he would stay with us.  He did too.  He stayed with us the whole time until the station was in sight.  Mind you that took a lot longer than we thought it would.  I have never laughed so much in my life though at how crazy the whole situation was.  We were all dying with laughter at how stupid we were.  Ross caught us with us just before we reached the station.  At the station he was able to get them to agree to pump out the diesel fuel Friday morning.  So we left the car there and Ross took us home.  I think it was about 3:30 ish by the time we crawled into bed.  What a day!!  More great stories to add to our adventure.  I really can't get over how on a deserted road, God sent a security guard to watch over us.  Isn't God good?!! 
I do have some pictures from today, but no time to get them up here.  I know you all understand and will patiently wait.  lol!