The Cleaning Has Begun!!

October 14, 2011

Dear Friends,

Thank you all so much for your continual prayers for my family. You are such a wonderful blessing to us!
I wanted to get you all up to date on how they are doing. I was so happy to talk to my Family today....my dad says that he is finally feeling better and is no longer on the pain medicine.
Praise the Lord for that! And thank you for your prayers for him.

My family finally made it to the orphanage this past Monday. They took the bus and made it all the way to Bossa this time by God's grace. Here is a little taste of how work is going at the orphanage from my dad:

"We are working hard and long.  Seems like there is never a moment when someone is not either hungry,
sick, injured, upset, dirty, in need of holding, or in need of having their diapers or undies changed. 
We are also in the process of painting the inside and outside of the building this week. 
The challenging part is keeping 30 some kids out of the paint! 
We have also been busy cleaning rooms and beginning the process of replacing mattresses
and fixing beds, lights,and cleaning toilets......YUK!! 

We also found a storeroom with all kinds of clothing, toys, and shoes that were never given to the children. 
We are in the process of sorting through these things and cleaning them to give out next week.  
We are also digging a deep trash pit.  Peter and I started it and then soon had all the boys in
the hole with us digging and shoveling out the dirt. We should finish it this weekend.
Last night after several hours of rain during the day, the kids were pretty restless and started trying out their
Nigerian karate moves on each other. We decided boxing would be safer and brought out the boxing gloves. 
They had a blast and so did we. Then it was P.T. with lots of pushups, sit-ups, running in place and
windmills--all before dinner. 
We had room inspections today after trying to teach the kids how to clean their rooms all week. 
They all passed marvelously and so we rewarded them with a movie and popcorn.
We made the popcorn in big pans of oil--put salt on one batch and
sugar on the other and the kids loved it!"
So the work at the orphanage has begun....through the faithful prayers of God's people...and I know that this is how it must continue. For at times, I am sure that my family feels like they are taking one step forward and then three steps backward as they try to overcome the challenges that they face each new day. But with God they shall do valiantly! And we can be sure that God will give them the strength and help they need to accomplish His work, in His timing and in His way.
So please pray for my family and for Fidele as they transition into this new ministry, that God will give them strength and wisdom to carry out this task with joy, and that they will leave the results in God's hands. Pray that God's work will continue on for the glory of His great name. Pray that the children at the orphanage will be transformed and impacted as my family ministers to them, and that they will all come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Thank you once again for your prayers! May God be glorified as we sprint for glory.
Press on in the Lord!!


Held by Grace,
Sara