Day Four

 Today we took a slight step back from our frenzied pace of the first 2 days in country. All three groups got back to our place around 2-3pm and we enjoyed the ocean together. We had guys playing in the water and learning how to surf in the African waves. It was pretty awesome. Before we had fun, we made sure to get a good day of work in. Here’s what the three groups did today:

Group 1 was the last of the team to head out to the farm. They took the tour and learned the processes of palm oil production. Now everyone on our team has been out to the farm. The group today also helped with some harvesting of the palm as we completed the dirt project on the first 2 days. Dordt football was able to help create a more level surface for traffic to and from the storage shed. Praise God! 

 Group 2 went to another school called Harbel. Again, we were able to play games with the kids. Kickball was a main attraction today. It seems like soccer and kickball are what we get challenged in the most. We sure have fun competing with the kids, but we haven’t been very successful on the scoreboard. The profound joy that the kids have when we get to school is infectious. Our players have shared over and over again how they will never forget the joy that the people of Liberia have. It has been incredible for us to experience this joy despite the lack of material possessions. Coach Penner said it well in his brief message at church yesterday…the people of Liberia have something that we don’t. We want to learn from them and bring it back with us. The joy of Lord is undeniable here. 

Group 3 was able to help out at the One Body One Hope campus. They are in the midst of a renovation project on their church building. We were able to help dig a trench where a new wall is going to go up. The trench we dug was about 5 feet across and 7 feet deep. A lot of dirt was moved! The guys worked hard digging by hand and using a pick axe to break up the hard ground. The heat and humidity in Liberia is also something we’ve never experienced before. Being only 8 degrees off the equator, we are close to the sun. It’s typically around 85-90 degrees and only gets down to high 70s at night. The humidity is around 85%. While we were digging, the players looked like they had just gotten out of the swimming pool. They would wring out their shirts and water poured out. It was hot, difficult work, but also very fulfilling. While we worked, Samuel, the man in charge of our crew was teaching us to sing. It was powerful to be pouring our sweat with our Liberian brothers, building God’s house, and praising Him together. Imagine 12 Dordt football players, sweating like horses, digging a trench, and singing African hymns. It was awesome. 

We continue to experience the Lord in awesome ways during our debrief sessions at night. We typically share with each other something that made us laugh, something that broke our heart, and someway that we saw God throughout the day. Our guys are growing. They are building relationships. Our hearts are getting captured more fully by Christ each day because of our experiences here.