Serving

 He called us out onto the water, the great unknown where feet may fail; and we found Him in the mystery of everyday, in oceans deep our faith stood. And we called upon His name and kept our eyes above the waves, when oceans rose we rested in His embrace; for we are His and He is ours.

The first week of March the Tlucek household and a team of 14 from Ecola Bible School stepped out of the boat onto the water as we put together a fun filled week serving the staff that works at Maranatha and their families. The Tluceks had never done anything like this before but Shelley kept saying that she knew God had given her this idea and looking back we know it was definitely His plan.

We split everyone up into groups and I was part of the kitchen crew; making food, doing dishes, sweeping the floor and serving? No big deal right? Well, we had 60 or more people everyday and were constantly running from one thing to the next. There was an endless stream of dishes to be washed and dried, vegetables to be cut and something to be stirred. As I washed, sliced, stirred, mixed ingredients, moped the floor and my body became weary, my neck and shoulders began to tense and my feet ache I found myself becoming more and more appreciative of the ladies that work in the kitchen and clean here. The kitchen becomes an oven whenever the stove or oven is on and yet Emony always has a smile on her face; though the dishes pile up she doesn't complain and continues on in song. I want to be like that.

I was asked to help teach a friendship bracelet class for the ladies in the afternoon. Watching their eyes light up as they figured out how to tie the colorful yarn and how excited they got when they could see the pattern in the bracelet as they worked was so much fun to see! Lots of laughs were shared as we figured out the best way to explain how to tie the knots and sometimes I would switch words in Kreyol and I wouldn't make any sense. The ladies were all very gracious though.

There was also a cake decorating station, a jewelry making station; where they could make bracelets necklaces and earrings and a duct tape wallet station; the team brought lots of fun colorful ductape and the ladies had a blast!

One of the girls on the Ecola team taught swimming lessons and the Tluckes oldest daughter taught CPR.

                       The men, boys and older girls made pinewood derby cars through-out the week

The last day I gave a Zumba workshop which was incredibly fun! While I do dance three times a week with the pre-schoolers I hadn't had a chance to really dance, so it was fun to teach the ladies and to also be able to just let go and dance, laugh and enjoy each others company.

We had a wonderful Haitian Pastor that lives in Chicago come down and do Bible classes with everyone. It was a lot of the staffs favorite part to be taught in their own language and to have good sound teaching. God really blessed everyone through Pastor Louie and he is such a sweet and godly man.

At the end of the week we were all drained but full of the peace and joy that comes with serving. I thank God for each and everyone of the staff that works at Maranatha, they really shine His love and it's such a huge blessing to know them.