Wake the World

Yesterday we had the opportunity to take 9 kids out to Wake the World on Badin Lake. "Wake the World" is a group of NC Wake boarders who wanted to do something special for the kids in NC's children's homes. We began the morning in prayer and we then divided up on boats to head out on the lake.  I began the morning with our 3 middle school boys as we all tried to learn how to wake board.  Now I'm not sure how many of you have ever tried this before but it looks easier than it is.   Our first guy out on his first time was able to get himself up out of the water which I hear is a great accomplishment.  The rest of us had a bit more trouble.  What is interesting about this though is over the weekend myself and one of the house parents had worked with one of the boys at Jordan Lake teaching him how to swim.  It took quite a bit of encouragement, patience and trust to get him to swim out to the rope and back and now here he is learning how to wake board.  So cool!  While none of us were quite experts and I wasn't even able to to stay up out of the water for a few seconds I'm pretty sure they enjoyed themselves.  I think they thought swimming in the lake was much easier so of course we had to do that too.

After lunch in order to have all of the boats filled with kids they split up our 3 girls so I went with the one girl that was by herself.  This young lady happens to be our newest at Oak Ranch and the youngest at 12.  At Jordan Lake they couldn't get her to go past her waist even in a life jacket so we were all interested to see how the day would go.  In the morning she had befriended one of the volunteers on the boat who never  broke her promise to her (she wouldn't let her fall off the tube).  Once she took a ride on the tube she was awesome.  I got the chance to ride with her in the afternoon and I was told that she didn't talk all morning but when I got on the boat with her and began to laugh and joke with her she didn't stop talking.  While we were on the tube she laughed the entire time, I think I had just as much fun watching her expressions as I did actually tubing.  While she wouldn't get in the water even with a jacket on she loved to ride on the tube.  

Although we were there to have a good time out on the lake I observed some interesting things with the kids.  With the boys I say how they encouraged one another, shared tips and were able to boost their confidence.  With the girls I saw them find trust in the people around them, confidence and courage as well as new friendships.  All in all minus the sunburns I think it was quite an extraordinary day for all of us!  If you would like more info about this event go to waketheworldnc.com  you can also look for pictures of yesterday's event soon.  

While some moments can be emotionally challenging for me this past week several of the kids were able to open up to me and begin to trust me more which makes me feel quite honored.  Especially when most of them have been burned so many times before. I am loving the friends and family that I have made here at Oak Ranch and I can't wait for what the rest of the summer has in store for all of us.   We've all been quite busy at the barn, in the hayfield, the garden, breaking beans (3 bushels so far that were donated and will be saved for the winter) and well having fun of course!  

For continued prayers: There is one more new girl coming today and please be prayerful for her transition as well as the house.  Just like with the horses there has to be a pecking order in their mind so I'm sure you get the picture.  Please pray for confidence and courage for the students to face their adversity and to be able to use self control especially when innocent words hurt.  Prayer for each one's self-efficacy as they see their worth to us and in God.  Pray for the churches and volunteers around us who have supported us and the kids through donations and friendships.