The sheep hear their Sheapherd and know His voice!

Dear Diakonos Friends and Families,
We are now in week five and are amazed and humbled at all that the Lord has done in the lives of those that He has brought to the Bahamas. Working with children day after day can be challenging, but Jesus is strengthening the counselors and giving them the endurance to press on. Last week we went on a outreach to the Down-Syndrome Association here in Nassau. The counselors poured out their spirit by painting and working to finish the new christian school for the down-syndrome kids. They had a tough workout yesterday morning and they are a little sore today, but they are fighting their flesh and ministering to the children. Yesterday Erika, one of the counselors lead a little boy to Jesus. He thought that he was going to hell because he always does bad things and she was able to tell him about Jesus who forgives all sin. It was amazing! Last Thursday Timmy who is in charge of animal care let all of the sheep out of their pen with his staff to demonstrate to the kids how Jesus shepherds us. The sheep got a little crazy at one point and he used this an example of how Jesus searches for us and guides us back to Him! This is an incredible group of teens and they are falling so in love with Jesus!
In His Grace,
Kodi Calabrese
and
Joy Youngman

Week 1

Example in Conduct

Dear Diakonos Family and Friends,
Saturday came so quickly. We said goodbye to two of our counselors Alli and Natalie and welcomed Laura and Jeremy! The counselors finished the week much stronger than they started. They quickly bonded, walls were torn down, and lives were changed. On Wednesday after a long day in the sun the counselors grabbed a packed dinner and headed across town to Sandilions Elderly Hospital. This is not your normal elderly home like the ones we have America. There is no A/C and the elderly sleep in one ward with their beds packed in like sardines. These teens weren't concerned about the smells and the dirty hands. They were lifting their voices with praise to the Lord and they sang out not caring about what anyone thought. They read from their Bibles just to bring the Word of God to those who can no longer read. Competitive checkers games were held with the counselors losing to one older man who demanded victory. One of our counselors read Jeremiah 1 to a mute woman and reminded her although she can not physically speak God has a calling on her life and He is working through her. This was such an incredible reminder to all of us that visiting the elderly doesn't end when we get home but rather it's the response to the Word of God in our lives. The counselors spent Friday night(4th of July) at Paradise Island bonding and unwinding after a long week. They danced behind the Junkanoo Parade and watched fireworks from Atlantis. This Monday counselors were assigned new teaching positions and groups of kids! This has been a good change from last week! Through their kids, they are learning obedience is so important and that patience is a virtue! This staff is so blessed to be a part of the work that God is doing. He is using everyone of these teens to change our lives and further the Kingdom of God! Thank you for allowing them this privilege! Please keep them in your prayers, asking that they will not be just hearers of the Word, but doers.
in Him,
Kodi Calabrese

Diakonos Teens are in Full Gear

Dear Diakonos Friends and Family,

Our week one Diakonos teens arrived on Saturday! Later that night they participated in a team building activity and a charge in servant hood. On Sunday morning they went to Global Village, a Bahamian church. They had the opportunity to experience Christianity in a different culture. Later that day they took a tour of the ALC on a train, prepared for the classes they are teaching in day camp and participated in team challenges. Before dinner, the Diakonos staff washed their feet and prayed over them, that they would serve as Jesus serves us and it was awesome! Monday morning began with a 5:30AM workout and verse challenge. The first verse this week is 1 Samuel 3:19 ,"So Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground." They all memorized the verse! At 9:00Am they were assigned the children that they would be shepherding for the rest of the week. They have been submerged in Bible teaching, sports training, archery, dance, drama, animal care, and karate. These teens are now being called sir's and lady's to coincide with the day camp theme, "The Kings Castle A Medieval Adventure". They are uniting as a body and working together. Last night, we had guy's and young ladies group. The guy's group was on 1Kings chapter 18 choosing between God and the world. ladies group was on understand God's love for us as His chosen. ladies group was amazing and the discussions afterward were very encouraging. They are all realizing areas in their lives that need change and God is doing an awesome work in each of their hearts! Please continue to pray for the teens that they would surrender their desires and hearts to the Lord and fall more in love with Jesus. We don't want any of them to go home at the end of the week!
in Him,
Kodi Calabrese