Cleaning House

July 23, 2011

I will share a quick update before retiring for the day.  Since the blog of yesterday morning Renee and I haven’t left the premises. The day has come to a close and as Renee and I start coveting our bed I decided to send out a quick, short blog to let everyone know we are doing well and soaking in the experiences put before us.  Renee continues to run from one end of the property to the other handling issues as they develop and overseeing the guest house.  Miriam INSISTS she isn't going to let Renee leave and will get Bill to join her here.  They are both such a blessing to the ministry with their gifts and actions.  Yesterday and this afternoon I have continued to spend time with the children in my efforts to have each child create a "thank you" card for their sponsor.  There were 185 notes to be written and I'm getting the number down to a bit over 20! YEAH!  The children have really had fun making them as I stress to them the love and assistance of their sponsor.  Even though I TRY to keep the table reserved for only those who are working on the cards, an entourage of children gather. Today I brought activity books with me and was amazed how interested the children were to complete mazes, dot to dot, and math problems.  The older children really enjoy doing "word search" puzzles and sit for a long time concentrating to find a word.  Once again I wish I spoke Creole - but somehow my love for them seems to penetrate their heart without using words and they surely return it tenfold. 

Renee was involved in a huge project to make room in the depot for the contents coming in a shipping container any day!  She had quite the group of helpers as nearly all the boys worked very hard at her direction.  At the end of the day a Pastor from an orphanage about an hour away came with a truck and was so thrilled to receive a supply of food, medicines and other needed items.  Six of the children from here went back to his orphanage for a week to be a help to his staff, and to experience life in the mountain area where agriculture is predominant.  I suspect they will return with a thankful heart for New Life.

We have met some amazing women on this trip who are staying here to serve. There is a young woman age 20, who has been such an inspiration and support to me.  God is so good at putting just the right person in your path.  Tonight the six of us gathered for prayer and it was such a realization that we come as broken souls before Him and that He still uses us  - He takes our gifts and puts us alongside those with other gifts and WOW -  look out! 

I must also mention the team that left today.  They, too, brought love and inspiration to New Life through their team members, activities and ministries in the area - especially at the deaf camp.  Tears were shed by them as they left. I have no doubt many of them will be back.  I was especially blessed by three of the girls on their team in their 20's.  They insist that Renee and I are going on the medical mission scheduled in October with them.  They are radiant girls with Godly lives and intentions. We shared so many laughs and tears together. They each had a child here steal their heart and change their life.  It's certainly the truth that God is about changing lives - we see it happen every day here.  The irony being it's usually a visitor - even though every visitor comes hoping to change a life here! 

Tomorrow is church - which is always an experience. Cathy Jones arrives in the afternoon and we will spend the last week as a team of three - NOT to be confused with the THREE STOOGES - or we hope we won't resemble such behavior!  Please continue to pray for us and for the future of this ministry.  There is so much activity here and the needs are great.  The good news is, God has already covered the tomorrow that we fear.  I see Renee's salamander is back on the wall.  Time to turn off the lights and put my head under the covers.  What might tomorrow bring?