Happy FATHERS Day

Happy FATHERS Day!!

Happy FATHERS Day!!

JUNE 2016

Normally when I sit down in front of the computer to write the newsletter I have to look at pictures to jog my memory about what all happened in the month. This month I sit here trying to figure out what to write about and what will just have to be left out.

We did a few Mother’s Day presentations. I prepared gifts for Dan’s 3 churches. In theCarapegua church I attended with Dan so that I could give the gifts out to these sweet ladies. Dan did a wonderful Mother’s Day program that had almost everyone shed a tear or two as we honored Motherhood. Here at the camp we visited 3 moms and 4 grandmothers in the community that are very special to the Children’s Home. At each house one of the kids stated that we were there to bless them and thank them for being so kind to them. Another read a scripture and 2 others presented the gifts we brought. After we left one of the elderly ladies homes (whom is walking slowly with a cane now) one of my teens asked if she could go back the following day to clean her yard. Two others instantly volunteered to help too. I love seeing their servant’s hearts growing. The yard looked great after the girls were done too!

Construction is in full swing still. First my pig barn finally got its roof. A storm ripped the roof off several years ago and it just now got onto the work list. This may seem insignificant but it is a big deal to me because they are my pigs. Now those pork chops are protected from the elements to fatten up better.

Dan has pulled the construction crew off of working on our house to work on the second Children’s Home building. It was a far more complicated ordeal getting started than planned. This property is attached to the camp and the first thing on the list was clean up of the brush and long grass. Once that was done and the Home was marked out, Dan ordered the first of the building materials. The dump truck couldn’t get down that road to deliver anything so he left. Dan, Kyle and the construction crew then became the road crew. They worked hard cutting back brush and filling in the sides of the road. Then Dan had a couple of dump truck loads of small rock and dirt come to dump on the road which the guys had to then level out. Thankfully the materials got delivered and construction is coming along fantastically. We have such a great construction team. I will include pictures in next month’s newsletter.

Pedro came to us 3 years ago for a 1-2 week maximum stay. The Indigenous office took him once to try and find the tribe where his family is from but had no luck. Three years later Dan went with a Defense Attorney to the area of the Chaco were he felt was most probable. Within 5 minutes of arriving Dan found Pedro’s former teacher who lead them to his mother, grandmother and cousins. Pedro’s legal name is Daniel BritezJarra. It is sweet that his name is Daniel also but he will stay Pedro to us. We now know that his 15th birthday is on July 11th. We don’t want Pedro to leave but it is now in the hands of the Judge.

In the last newsletter I mentioned Leticia, she has been reunited with her mother. This month we received 4 new children. Maria is 13, Lila 14, Reinaldo 13 and Roselino is 11. These last 3 are siblings and the boys are a real hand full. That brings us up to 20 kids!

This past Saturday we did 2 Samaritan’s Purse Presentations. The morning presentation was in the neighborhood whereour local church from Canada built 4 houses and that now has an operating small group bible study. The afternoon was at the local public school where our youngest 9 kids attend. I was the Coordinator for it and attended the 3 meetings before hand. Dan and Kyle picked up the boxes and took a group to pass out invitations. Dan took care of the snacks. I asked Kyle to do the Bible story. Then I asked him to be in charge of the skit. In the end I wasn’t able to attend the morning presentation because somebody had to stay in the Home with our kids, so Kyle was in charge of the whole program. I did attend the afternoon event with the entire household. Over a 100 kids heard the gospel message and received the Samaritan’s Purse boxes. I often tease Dan that he knows everybody. Dan came with me to the second Samaritan’s Purse meeting that I attended because it was for the Coordinators and their Pastors. At the meeting the Director for Paraguay greeted Dan by name and asked if we would host a team of volunteers coming from the States to be able to experience the program in the field. It was great to have the volunteers to help hand out the boxes and they really were a blessing. This is our second time to be involved with this project and it is always such great fun watching the kids enjoy the program and open their gifts. So basically I said “Here am I… send everybody else”. I am so thankful for the whole crew who made these events possible.

Roselino told me that there was a notebook with writing and a photo of a girl in his shoebox. He said “I think I have her notebook by accident”. I asked him to bring it to me. On the last page of the notebook was the photo of the 19 year old who packed the box and a note with her mailing address asking the recipient of the box to write her. That is just so sweet so we are going to do it.

If Saturday wasn’t full enough, that night was Ana’s 15th birthday party. Thankfully we had done most of the work ahead of time. I don’t know what I would have done without Dani! We had hired a young man to grill for the 50 invited guests but he ended up in bed with his back so Dan had to grill. Dan then quickly went and showered and put on his suit so he could dance the waltz with Ana. We knew Ana a few years before she came to live here at the Home. It was been a privilege to watch her blossom and enjoy the celebration that was just for her.

The month started with my birthday on June 1st. The kids always want birthday cake so they were disappointed when I told them I didn’t want a cake because the following day was Camila’s 14th birthday. Since it is Camila’s first birthday celebration in the Home I wanted it to be about her. Little did I know that my sweet husband had planned a surprise party for my 50thbirthday . Dan, Kyle, Dani and I had gone to the city that day and when we pulled into the camp Dan drove up to the camp. He asked for our help in the dining hall. I just assumed that one of the things that he bought in the city needed un-loaded . As I entered the dining hall the lights came on and there were all the kids, some neighbors, church family from Carapegua and some special friends. Dan had arranged all the food through one of the businesses of one of the church members so there was cake for kids.

We have worked hard this week at the camp. Kyle, Dani and I have been cutting grass and cleaningbuildings . Dan had to repair some electrical lines that had come down because of a storm and some rotten posts. SOPAS has started here today until Sunday. Dan and Kyle are attending this course. We are privileged to have Bro. Elias Rodriquez here at the camp teaching our Pastors and leaders.

Sunday night Dan is flying out for 6 weeks. This is going to be a whirlwind trip. He will be in Canada for 12 days to take care of some business and to love on our 2 grandbabies. He will then be heading to the States to attend the General Assembly and to visit just a few churches. I will not be travelling with Dan due to the fact that I need to stay in the Children’s Home. Please pray for all of us. For safety as he travels and that God would arrange his schedule. I know that Dan is concerned about leaving the construction crew working without him. Pray for us as we try and fill in for Dan for 6 weeks. When Kyle and I were cleaning out a storage area he asked me what to do with something. I told him to set it aside for now but on June 13 I am in charge so then we will throw it out. Dani was to be our driver but Dan has been so busy that he has not had any free time to teach her how to drive a standard. Pray for peace and patience for me, I am so thankful to have Dani and Kyle here with me.