There is a saying that often floats around SEAPC mission trips: “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall be flexed.” Today was a day of flexing.
Our team split into two groups. One tackled the chicken coop build, while the other organized games, crafts, and teaching for the children in Siem Reap. Each group had its own challenges and had to adapt on the go.
For the group working directly with the kids, they had to constantly switch up and invent new activities to keep the children engaged. While we planned for a lot of activities, and brought a lot of supplies, time seemed to go faster than expected. Before we knew it it was improv time. The team did a great job of creating games using whatever was available. Games involving balls and chairs were quickly improvised on the spot. The children loved it!
For the chicken coop group, we ran into a big problem. The welding machine could not make the welds as strong as we would have liked. The electrical structure in Cambodia is inconsistent, which makes it challenging to weld. We had to change course, and quickly. We only have a few days to get this done. The details might bore you, so we’ll just say that with some quick thinking and a few more supplies, we were back on track. We believe we will be able to finish our portion of the project by the end of the day tomorrow. The remaining details will be completed by a few local workers who have been hired to do some brickwork and install doors.
We ended our day by providing a big meal for everyone in the home. The children helped set up tables and chairs on the lawn to enjoy a nice meal together outside. Without even being asked, our team jumped right in to serve the children. That says a tremendous amount about the quality of this team that the Lord has brought together. It was a long day. It was a very hot day. It was a challenging day. No one would fault them for just wanting to go back to their beds for the evening and rest. Instead, they rolled up their sleeves and continued to care for others. That sounds pretty flexible to me.
~ John Reilly