On Friday, May 25th, the LOL juggling team and their 6 adult chaperones, two chickens and rabbit, woke up in the Essex Alliance Church to begin our first full day of ministry in the Burlington area.  After breakfast, we set out for the Champlain Valley Christian School in Vergennes.  Unfortunately, Mapquest sent us way out od town, but a quick call to the school got us back on track ("We've lost a lot of chapel speakers through Mapquest," I was told.)  We made it to the school in time, no worse for the extra mileage.

Again, LOL was at the top of their game, and again the audience, grades K through 8, loved the program.  It was actually their last day of school for this year, so it was exciting to be their on such a special day.  R-Lo performed her 8th grade solo routine, and it was the best I've ever seen her juggle.  This tradition is a nice way to have the 8th graders finish their careers with LOL and learn about ending well.

We headed back to Burlington after the show at the school, had a picnic at Ethan Allen Park, which was highlighted by a surprise 13th birthday party for Matthew.  The fact that Matt's dad was a chaperone, so was able to be present for this, made it all the more special.  The chickens stretched their wings, the kids played on the playground, and in an hour or so, we were back in the vans heading to Green Mountain Nursing Home in Colchester.  While this is becoming redundant, the kids again nailed their performance.  The audience wasn't as involved as the nursing home we did the day before, but the kids gave them all the dignity and respect they deserve.  Several of our kids prayed for residents right on the spot.  Tyler did his juggling solo, to the deeply spiritual song "One Eyed, One Horned Flying Purple People Eater".  I was so impressed, not only with his juggling, but his choreography, one of the hardest parts of putting a routine together. 

After returning to the base, we had supper, free time, and a chapel service led by Jona-Lynn.  After speaking about grace and forgiveness, she led us in communion.  Now it was time for God to minister to, rather than through, our students.  One by one, kids began to get teary eyed - and as the teacher of these kids, I can say it wasn't the ones you'd expect to get emotional.  Jo began to pray for kids individually, and the next day one boy reported the following: "I had believed in God in my mind last year, but now I know Him in my heart."  Another said, "I've been waiting for something like that service ever since I came to this school."  It was a powerful night, and we were only approaching the half way point of the trip.