Harvest Party

Sunday our church had a harvest party at the new property - where we are currently building a new church. It was so much fun to gather and use our new space even though it's far from being completed. Most of the event was held in the new sanctuary which was covered by our new roof! I didn't get any pics of the progress, but I'll go back soon and get some because it's so exciting. Earlier this year Kevin headed up the "raise the roof" campaign and it's cool to see the fruits of those efforts.

It was a costume party with lots and lots of games and activities for the kids. We couldn't get our act together to do a family costume, but we did all dress up.

Kevin was a soldier, I was a doctor, Syd was a ninja and Kay was Mary Ingalls. I love how Sydney blends into the scarecrow.

There was a costume contest and Kayleigh won 3rd place!

Here were the top 3 for the 6-12 year olds....Kaylee - 2nd place, Kayleigh - 3rd place and Kyle - 1st place

There was also a pumpkin carving contest with exactly two entries....Sydney one 1st place and Becca won 2nd place (Syd and Becca are 1 day apart in age)

I participated in the "eat a donut off a string" contest and won 2nd place.

I took a new friend with me to the party. This is Marlennis Diaz from the Dominican Republic. She is studying environmental technology at Mt. Hood Community College - a local college. When she was younger, she was sponsored through Compassion International!

Yesterday was the first day we met and it was hard to get her whole story while being at a party like this. I hope we can get together again, soon. The best part of her story is that she is not from a Christian family. I asked her if she would credit Compassion for introducing her to Christ and she said yes! This is what I love about Compassion....yes, they help with physical poverty and that's a very important part of their ministry. But Jesus is at the heart of what they do - and releasing children from spiritual poverty and making an eternal impact is really what it's all about. Marlennis is a walking testimony to that.