Friends from a church in Va

July 12 – 26 we were blessed with a team of 7 that came to visit, help, and encourage us from a Church in Va.  This is the 7th team that has visited us from there and it was nice to see some returning faces (Richard had been on 6 of the teams, Steve on 7, Jim on 3, and Christine only on the 1st team ) and have some new ones as well (Debra, Barbara, and Denise, who was the last one of her family of 4 to be on a team here). 
While here they proved to be a blessing in many ways.  Work wise their two main tasks were to dig and pour footers for the  two room extensions on the current preschool and a storeroom for the orphanage, and put up a fence around the preschool and the orphanage house.  It was a joy to see their team work and good attitudes to do anything needed because  they were also able put in the base for the orphanage gates, install a water heater in the outside bathroom for guest use, build a large collapsible multi-use table for team/ ministry purposes, do several sand and brick runs and keep up with the traditional cattle rodeo/ aka cattle vaccinations. 
They were also great in helping Jako with the every day break downs and fixings of the machines while here.  Unfortunately break downs are not a rarity here and fixing them takes lots of Jako’s time and effort – just to maintain basic needs such as lights, electricity, and water.  Having the team’s help to fix a broken water coupling on the water tower, rebuild the generator motor, and engineer a new bracket for the generator was a big help practically and a big morale booster. 
Spiritually the team was able to participate in and attend two   village church services, do marriage teaching for the community,  eye glass ministry in Kaue at the local clinic (doing eye testing, handing out glasses, and sharing the gospel), play with the babies and children at the orphanage,  and invest and pray for the house moms through special Bible study time just for them. 'The three teenage boys here really enjoyed the time that Jim spent with them, talking with them and modeling what it means to be responsible young men. 
Denise and Chris (who are both hospice nurses) were even able to go with Amber to visit some sick families in the surrounding villages, to encourage and pray with them.   Despite Amber  having to drive the rough bush roads herself (technically foot paths in some places),  she really enjoyed being able to get out into the village and interact with the community on a more personal level.  In one day they went from visiting a humble and gracious sick widow who was caring for 11 dependants (8 of which were 10 or under with  no males that could work or help plow) who was only thinking of how she could provide for them when she passed away, to a gentleman who also sick but who had a very nice village (looked like the village HYLTON), but still wanted more and was very afraid of dying.  It was heartbreaking to see the need that was out there and to see the difference in needs that exist.
Thanks to all that were a part of the team or who helped to make this team possible and thanks also to the church in VA for their continued support of us and the ministry  over the years.   We will think of you every time we see the fence keeping the kids safe at the preschool and the orphanage, when we look at the extensions on the preschool, and you will definitely be  remembered in the hearts of the children and housemothers that you invested in here.  Thanks for making a difference and for being a part of all that God is doing here.