Day 2 at LFR

     Today was day 2 with our families, but our first full day following our schedule with the kids.  We started off with a great breakfast and morning watch devotional from Brett (our worship leader and emcee) on why "God is Good".  Then the parents were off to "common grounds" with Buck and Eleanor, but not without a few tears from 2 or 3 kids who didn't want them to leave.  We assured parents it wouldn't last long and to go enjoy themselves, and sure enough, after some golf cart rides and swimming in the pool, there were nothing but smiles on their faces and laughing in the air.  It was such a fun and busy morning!  Two of our kids, Nolan and Brayden, have just finished chemo treatments, and they are exhausted, so a few of us stayed indoors with them most of the morning, but otherwise, everyone was outside playing and swimming.  

      After parents were reunited with their kids around noon, we all had lunch together and then it was time for "conched out".  This is when the parents and kids have family time for several hours, and the volunteers typically CRASH (or "conch out") on the beach or by the pool.  And that's just what we did!  A few hours of down time did us good and we were all ready to go tonight!  Around 5 pm, volunteers picked up their family partner kids, said goodbye to mom and dad again, and the parents went out to dinner (compliments of "Bud and Alley's" in Seaside), while the FP's stayed with the kids at their condos and ate dinner and played with them.  At 6:30 we all joined back up at the tent for ice cream sundaes, a small dance party and then we set out blankets in the grass and watched "Air Bud" the movie!  God provided us with a cool breeze tonight and a beautiful day, so it could not have been more picture perfect!

     The volunteers finished the night, as we do every night, in room 413 for "nightcap".  This is when we gather together to recap the day (highs and lows), go over the schedule for the next day, and sing and praise God for our many blessings!  Brett sang us out with "Jesus Paid It All", a perfect reminder that we were made clean and whole and our sins were wiped away thanks to the sacrifice that Jesus made for you and me, and we owe it all to HIM!  Even these sick, frail bodies that some of these kids have are clean and whole and PERFECT in God's eyes, and that's what we pray the parents can all hang on to this week.....a little bit of HOPE.

     Thanks to all of you (family and friends) who made it possible for us to be here this week, and for all of you who are praying for us and these families!  We ask that you especially lift up the 11 children here this week, four of which have serious brain tumors.....so please pray for a miracle and for God's healing hands to comfort each of them and their parents and siblings who love them SO MUCH!  And then go hug your own kids, nieces, nephews etc. and thank God that they are healthy.

In Him,

Team 8