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
