Beautiful Things

It typically takes a few days for the locals to join us on the worksite, whether to play or to work. But since we were in this location last year and last week, there's no awkward moments or hesitation. It was just like being home. On Monday, the local kids screeched when they saw some of the girls from last year. Some of the boys got right to work helping to put a coat of primer on the house we are painting. But yesterday, the group and the locals did something unique. As I was at the store getting the supplies we needed, no construction could be done. Our resident artist Colleen always brings her paints with her, looking for opportunities to turn trash into something beautiful. When I returned from the store run, I noticed a group of Woodsiders with paint all over themselves. Shirts, pants, hands, faces. Some of it was just mess. Some was purposeful. As I got closer to the commotion, I noticed something - it wasn't a paint fight, it was a paint party. The abandon car was totally covered in paint - color, designs, flowers, scripture, hearts. And it was done as a group: our kids and their kids, hand in hand. Taking something so broken and making it so beautiful is a nice summary of what we are doing here. Trying to fix things that are broken - not the houses, but the people. And not just the Bahamians, but us. We are all broken; sinners looking for grace. And by His grace we are made beautiful again. Like the abandoned car.