A RE-CAP FROM OUR GRANDE PRAIRIE GUEST BLOGGER, NATASHA HARMS.

It is hard to believe that it is over.  The time with the Mully Children’s Family went by very quickly.  The time although it was short was very fulfilling.  Our whole committee was blessed by their coming and we are missing pieces of our hearts as they took them when they left our town on Tuesday morning.

 Friday started off with a wonderful breakfast at Centre 2000.  Charles spoke as well as Chris Warkentin our member of Parliament for the Peace Region.  The event was sold out and the place was packed with many business men and women from our town who all enjoyed a great meal, songs and a message of hope from Charles. 

 After the performance in the morning, we all headed over to the Alliance Church for rehearsals and a quick lunch with the staff.  Then we were off to one of our committee member’s house; Rick and Margaret Friesen.  We had the children break up into teams and had a contest to see who could build the tallest tower using only spaghetti and gummy bears.  (This is one of Gachoka’s favorite memory: his team won of course!)  : )  While the contest was going on we had different groups suit up and head out into the snow storm to enjoy a horse drawn sleigh ride, and snowmobile rides.  Even Charles and Esther got in on the action!  We then enjoyed a wonderful Turkey dinner followed by a devotional, songs, a sharing time, and finally we presented each one with a special sweater made just for them.  Sweet memories from that day! 

Sleigh ride

 

Grace Cheech making a new friend

Charles enjoying a ride on the snowmobile

Saturday was filled with the busyness of the performances at the College.  We arrived early in the morning, to set up, and rehearse.  During the morning set up six members of the team including Mueni, and myself headed over to the hospital for a quick tour by one of our surgeons in town.  We were able to have Mueni volunteer to allow the kids a chance to see how the ultrasound equipment works, the boys laughed at seeing Mueni’s stomach!  This included part of our tour of the ER and then we were able to take in a casting class.  Each one was able to have a cast made of their arm.  Benedict had them retape it shut so that he could trick the boys at the College and pretend he was seriously hurt!  Dickson nearly had a heart attack!!

Benedict & Cheech examining the ultra-sound

Benedict & Lydia making a cast

 The performances at the college went very well!  Standing ovations at all of their performances! 

In between performances, the kids enjoyed some time visiting and were treated to massages… they got the royal treatment!

Natasha and her father visiting with Annastacia

Sunday morning the kids had a huge impact on our church and the community that came.  Several people came to the know the Lord and several rededicated their lives to Christ! Praise God!

After a wonderful morning at the church we went over to the ten pin bowling alley and had a great lunch and allowed the team a chance to just hang out and have fun.  After a great time bowling we headed over to our home (Alden and Natasha Harms) for a quick supper, mandazies and just hung out for  a bit before heading over to the church again for an out door guided tour of Bethlehem.  It was cold!!  The minus 20 temperatures did not keep the kids from having a good time!  At one point Alden was being beaten by a Roman guard and many of the team were actually very concerned for his well being! 

The next morning the team headed out to Sexsmith to Peace River Bible Institute where they performed to a packed gym!  Several runner up schools for Milk it for Mully were in attendance as well as community members and students of the college.  The audience was overwhelmed by the performance and the message was preached loudly to a group that would not normally get a chance to hear the gospel. 

Peace River Bible Institute

Lunch in the cafeteria at Peace River Bible Institute

 After lunch and hanging out at the PRBI gym we headed out to the winning Milk it for Mully School – Le Glace – where again, the gym wasp acked full of community members and students!  The shocked faces of the children in the audience told us that they thought this group was amazing!  Again, they received a standing ovation.   

Le Flip for the winning school - Le Glace

Students at Le Glace enjoy the show

 Later that night we headed over to the Crystal Park gym where friends of ours allowed the team to play games and enjoy a gym.  I’m still sore from that night, but many had huge smiles on their faces during and at the end of the time.  Lots of fun and wonderful memories were made!  

Tug of war!

Hip-hip-hurrah!

One big family - MCF & The Grande Prairie committee

Tuesday saw us out at Peace Wapiti Academy where the kids where first invited to come to last April.  They went around from class to class in groups sharing their testimonies and one group was asked to share a “stronger” Christian message to those who wanted to hear in the Theater.  I was not surprised when Mbithi (Festus) raised  his hand to go and share in that session in the Theater.  Man did he preach it to those kids!  My husband Alden and I have on several occasions encouraged Mbithi to consider changing his pursuit of accounting to pastoring!  He has a gift. 

After lunch with the Interact group at P.W.A. the students went to a Taekwondo centre to exercise and have fun.  Some during this session headed over to the court house where a lawyer in town invited the children with aspirations in law to come and hang out and enjoy seeing trials in session.  I hear that Zubeda grilled the Judge on a lot of “hot” topics.  Way to go Zubeda!  : )  They sure are bold with their faith and we were very refreshed by that!  Tuesday night the kids got a chance to hang out a Jim Bigg’s house and see where their bus driver calls home.  The GP committee came over after their supper and enjoyed a wonderful time of sharing, singing, and devotions once again.  Many of us had heavy hearts as we knew this was our last time together.

Wednesday morning we all gathered at the Sandman and waved goodbye to our new family friends.  It felt personally like I was saying goodbye to my kids.  The comments that were spoken to me by some of the kids will stay with me as well as their faces.  I can not forget them, they hold a special place in our hearts.

In Christ,

Natasha Harms