Busy busy day!

Olivia:
"Today was a really long day but soooo good! We got up early and of course the boys were late to breakfast because they were sleeping on the roof (Edit from Joe: We were on time to the second, and it was because breakfast was an hour earlier than we're used to). We went to a place called Gully Bank where we did a carnival for the kids there. It was the poorest place we've been to so far. Jim and Penie said that they are the only missionaries who go into there. It was really fun and cool to work in a place that everyone else rejects. After that we went to the hospital which was sad but also really nice. The girls visited the women's ward and the guys went to the men's ward. Basically it's just a huge open air room with a million patients. We also visited the children's ward and gave the kids little stuffed animals and prayed with them. They were in there for burns, broken legs, and because of bike accidents. One little baby had only one leg and one arm but was so happy! A lot of the parents abandon their kids in the hospital so they were more than happy to have visitors. After, we went the the infirmary aka nursing home. Once again the girls visited the women and the guys visited the men. We passed out hygiene things like tooth paste, soaps, tissues, and the most valued thing: "sweeties". It was awesome because Nicole and I got to visit with a lady we met two years ago! We took Polaroid pictures with her do she could decorate her wall. She can't walk and she's blind but she still loved holding the pictures. She loved singing songs with us and told us all about God which was really cool. Tomorrow we go to the water falls yay! Also I've accumulated a farmers tan, which I'm sure you are proud of dad :) "

Kayla:
"Today was probably one of the most impactful and emotionally draining days I've had since I've been here. We started our day off an hour earlier than usual and headed to a small poverty stricken town called Gully Bank. It was heartbreaking to see just how poor and dirty this area was, there were plastic bottles piled everywhere. As we pulled in some kids tried to jump on the back of the truck, but mainly they just ran along side and tried to keep up. During the carnival I carried the camera majority of the time and kids kept running up to me asking if I could take their picture just so they could see themselves. It really struck me how much I took advantage of something as "small" as a mirror. After leaving Gully Bank we set up a small camp along the the ocean to have fast food lunch, beef patties! We then headed to the hospital, girls went into the women's ward and guys into the men's. Holly, Olivia and I met a lady who had been thrown off a bike yesterday along with her husband and daughter, who were both also in the hospital. The lady had sprained her neck and hurt her legs and her husband had broken one of his legs so bad he couldn't walk. I later met their daughter in the children's ward who miraculously seemed completely fine asides from a cut her head. It turns out after being thrown from the bike, her shirt got caught on a pipe and she was saved from hitting the ground. God truly just continued to show up throughout this day. After the hospital we went to the nursing home where I met two different ladies. The first lady was named Victoria, whom when I asked to take her picture she asked if I could come back some day and give her a picture to keep. That's when I realized we had our polaroid camera in the car, so after I got that, took the picture and gave it to her. Victoria told me that over the years that she's been there so many people have come, taken her picture and left, but I was the first person to ever give her an actual print out. She was so overjoyed that she walked around the nursing home showing everyone she possibly could. The next lady I met was Ms. Kennedy who completely just broke me down. She laid there in her bed and talked to me, Nicole and Olivia about how much Jesus truly loved us. I have never heard the gospel said so strongly and so perfectly before. I couldn't help but just cry during our conversation because even though she couldn't see us, she was overjoyed by our presence in her room. Today was just such an amazing and eye opening day, I literally could talk about it forever, but now it's time for some DT so I'm gonna peace out. Ya Mon"

Ashli:
"Hey you guys! So today we went to gully bank today! Basically the Camden of New Jersey. I was working at the bowling game with Beth and Joel. The kids were soooo in love with that bowling game! The excitement in their faces when they would get a strike was sooo precious! When we handed out prizes was definitely tiring! I had three girls at one point pulling me begging me to take them to the prize table! When were about to leave the girls had some conflict with one creepy guy but thanks to our strong TKCS men the issue was dealt with :) literally after the carnival everyone was covered in sweat and dirt! My ankle had literally dirt and ash where my socks stopped. After gully bank we went to lunch I had a beef and cheese patty and a chicken patty it was VERY VERY GOOD!!! After lunch we went to the hospital I met a lady named Beverly; she was there because she was recovering from stomach issues. I asked if I could pray for her, she smiled and nodded. After the prayer I gave her the baggy with the toothpaste, candy, and soap. One of my favorite parts of the day was the children's ward! I met a four year old girl, and her name was really long so ill shorten it to Anna. She and her family was recently in a bicycle accident and I had to go up to her because she was very cute. She was very shy and quiet and I was determined to get her out of her shell. We started playing games. I taught her miss merry Mack and we played with her new teddy bear that we gave her. After me practically humiliating myself thinking I would never get this girl to laugh she finally starts laughing. My heart literally skipped a beat. Her grandparents came in and gave her like juice and some food and left. I walked back over and asked her what her grandparents brought her to eat. She showed me that it was a coco bread cheese sand which. I told her that I loved coco bread and she agreed with me. Then immediately she grabbed a piece of the sandwich and handed it to me. I was shocked that this little girl would have offered me a price of her sandwich. I kept thinking when I was four I wouldn't have never given a stranger I just met a piece of my food. I told her she can have my share and that she should enjoy it. On the side of her was a little baggy of toothpaste and a tooth brush. I asked her if she knew what that toothpaste was for. I told her show me a smile, she had the most biggest smile. I told her (while holding the toothpaste) with this toothpaste whenever you smile your teeth will shine sooo bright people will say "oh my gosh your teeth are so bright I can't even see!" She laughed so hard she fell on her side laughing. Eventually, I said goodbye. After we went to the infirmary I met a lady named miss Victoria. She was 80 years old and she said her throat was hurting her. My Canadian friend Mikayla joined me and we sang amazing grace and Jesus loves me to her. Later Olivia took a Polaroid picture of all three of us so that miss Victoria can put it in her room. She was so happy she was walking around showing everyone she saw. She would say "Look at me with these two beautiful ladies!" Turns out it was her first picture ever from a missions team. I met other amazing ladies there and hopefully we can visit them one last time before we go home. Overall god has truly blessed me on this trip! I'm learning new things everyday! The kids are truly a blessing! The relationships I have made with the kids and the teens living with are truly remarkable! I'm really excited for what else is In store for me and the rest of the team! PEACE OUT!"

Today was indeed a packed day. We're all thoroughly exhausted. As a nurse, I didn't know what to do with myself in the hospital. The conditions were deplorable, the nurses seemingly had no training or care, and the security at the door were taking our supplies for the patients for themselves. I wanted to fix it all but couldn't. It was tough to deal with.

Tomorrow we get a break and are going to a beautiful waterfall spot.