Fall 2019 Newsletter

Thank You!

Drew and I are excited to be taking more frequent trips to the orphanage and eventually be attending Bible school together.  (See “Embarking on a New Adventure” article).  Drew asked me to share what God has been impressing on him lately:  Time and money spent on personal endeavors and not on the Kingdom of God are simply a waste because when we find ourselves in heaven we’ll realize things that do not impact eternity don’t matter.  

     Thank you for your prayers during this transition time and for your giving.   Please know your financial support goes toward helping orphans and widows, not our schooling, which we pay with our personal money. 

Embarking on a New Adventure

     Drew’s father is a lifelong minister, skillful word-crafter and very dedicated.  While visiting him and his wife one Christmas it was his job to read a scripture for the Christmas Eve church service.  I watched for two days as he carried it with him, reading and meditating on it throughout the day.  I asked to read it.  It was difficult, yet in church his delivery made it simple to understand.  

Being raised by such a powerful minister as a father, it seems natural for Drew to have sensed a call to ministry from a young age.  He has spoken with his father about it several times throughout his adult life, but Drew never felt ready for one reason or another.  Since we’ve married, he’s been waiting ‘till he retires to go into ministry full-time.  

     In preparation, however, this summer he enrolled in Charis Bible College’s (CBC) online studies. This is the school I attended 19 years ago.  (Really? Nineteen?!)  He’s excelled and loves it. This fall, Drew realized that this next step needs to be in God’s timing, not Drew’s, and that time is too short to waste.  Drew told me, “I have been called to ministry at least 3 times through the years, but I ignored it. This time I just couldn’t. I know a lot of people aren’t going to agree with or understand that.” Drew’s father was excited to hear about his decision to make major life changes and focus on full time ministry.

     When I attended CBC it was a two year school, now it has a third year dedicated to fulfilling eight specific calls which must be completed at CBC’s main campus in Colorado.  In less than two years we plan to move to Colorado to complete CBC’s third year program together and see how we fit together in ministry.  While all this is happening I – or we, if Drew is free – will continue orphanage trips.  As I mentioned above, I will be going in the spring.  So this is our news.  We are excited!

Wonderful trip! Planning the next one!

Oh my goodness, there were so many special things about my trip it’s hard to pick what to tell you - one was getting to see the children and noting how they’d all grown in stature and maturity.  Another was I arrived just after many of the older graduates had come home, little ones in tow, to celebrate the 15-year anniversary of the orphanage.  Several stayed until the Monday I arrived and we met on the road as I was coming and they were returning home. 

I got to see one “grandchild”  for the first time.  It was really fun.  Another exciting thing was a couple of grads asked me for old photos of themselves.  A girl asked me for specific pictures (one of her holding a tortoise).  I totally remember that picture and am happy to know one she specifically likes so I can put it in her photo book.    Maybe I’ll make it the cover. 

I’ve decided I can’t let so much time pass between trips and plan to return in the spring.

  I’ve always hoped it makes the children feel part of the orphanage, like it’s their home.  When some grads were visiting, we walked down the hallway looking at the pictures – they loved seeing themselves when they were little, and it was fun to see old pets in the pictures.  

     When Drew and I visited together, four siblings had just arrived.  We didn’t have time to do the photo project that trip and this trip the oldest girl asked me, “Are you going to take my picture?”    I didn’t understand what she was asking. “Of course I will take your picture.” I said, thinking, “I always take thousands of pictures.”  As the days passed she followed me around asking again and again then one day she took me to the girls’ bedroom, pointing at a photo of me glued onto the wallpaper, “You’re on the wall!” She made her point.  It suddenly dawned on me that it really bothered her that everyone else  was on the wall, and her photo was not . . . from that point I started being very intentional to take a wonderful picture of her.  Finally, while we were having a picnic, that moment came and I got the best picture of her.  She was thrilled and couldn’t wait to for it to be hung on the wall. 

I sat glued to my computer screen watching what felt to me like being home:  the girls in the den having their hair brushed and walking into the school I know so well.  As the orphanage the six-year-old sister from the sibling group I mentioned in the previous article was giving the visitors a tour of her bedroom.  She pointed out things of interest, “. . . there’s a bee, a rabbit . . .” then she got really animated pointing to a top bunk bed, “I can show you Neekola!” she clambered up on the bed, pointing at my photo stuck on the wallpaper.  “What is it?” the visitor didn’t understand what “Neekola” was. “Neekola!!” she said excitedly, “Neekola and Driou!  She takes pictures of us!” “Oh, okay.” The visitor said carelessly, but the little girl went on talking about us.  It was a sweet to look through a “window” into the orphanage seeing my goal of relationship building has been successful in such a way that the littlest tried her hardest to explain Drew and me to her new friends.

Gifts For Grads 

As you know, when they leave the orphanage I purchase orphan graduates supplies to help them in their futures.  I try to tailor them to the career they believe they will pursue at the time.  One recent graduate is helpful and capable.  She works seven-day weeks at a resort dining room.  I am certain she is the best worker they’ve had.  I asked the orphanage director (“Mama”) what she is interested in for her future.  Mama isn’t sure, but remembers her saying she was interested in baking.  Since it is difficult to find good quality supplies there, I have purchased good, sturdy baking supplies here to send her.  I hope she uses them to reach her next career goal.

     One of the grad girls, now married, visited me.  Several years ago someone bought the orphanage sewing machines, and she was the one girl who actually used them.  With her brother’s help she re-covered all the orphanage dining chairs.  They turned out really well.  She assured me she would use a sewing machine, so Papa and I made a four-hour trip to purchase her one.  She is thrilled.  The other day I wished her well for her birthday and asked if she has used it. She said yes, and will send me pictures of what she’s made.  I’m looking forward to seeing her handiwork

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