Steps Forward

October 22, 2011

Dear Prayer Warriors,

I wanted to pass on to all of you an update my family passed on to me. They are coming up on their two week mark at the orphanage tomorrow. The Lord has truly been blessing them with wonderful opportunities to minister to the children both physically and spiritually. Thank you all so much for your prayers....it is so neat to see God's answers to your prayers as time goes on. Keep on praying!!! May God bless you!!!

Almost 2 weeks here and we are thrilled with the progress that is
being made by the grace of God.  The facility is almost completely
painted in bright and warm colors.  We have begun a huge trash pit
(12' sq. by 15' deep) and should have it done by Tuesday.  Mark was
able to build us an outdoor shower using an old water tank he found.
He and the girls fill it up with buckets of water which is no easy
chore as they have to climb to the top of the water tank (about 15'
high) to dump the water into it.  We have also started teaching the
children how to read and write.  We discovered over the last few days
here that even the children in the upper elementary classes at school
are illiterate.  So, each evening after supper we begin reading and
writing classes.  What a joy it will be when the children are able to
read their Bibles--which brings up another matter--only two of the
children have a Bible.  Please pray that our many boxes of Bibles made
it onto our container so that we will have some for the children.
This next week we are working on repairs in the facility, teaching the
children how to use the bathrooms that are inside the building, fixing
beds, etc.  In the weeks to come we will be  making several thousand
concrete blocks to use in the construction of a house for us which
will also serve as a guesthouse for individuals and teams wanting to
come and serve here.
As to prayer requests--our container has reached Douala and should be
released from Customs sometime next week.  Please keep praying that we
will receive the exoneration promised us so the bill to get it out
will be considerably less expensive than the $32,000.00 (yes--you read
that right) they want to charge us.  Also please pray about our visa
situation.  We went to the immigration office to get them extended and
were refused.  The person in charge told us to come back and try again
in November.  Please be in much prayer about this as if they do not
extend our visas and grant us a resident card we have to leave
Cameroon on December 5.  We believe this to be just one more challenge
in which God will show Himself strong and able on our behalf so as to
stay and keep ministering.  Please pray as well for Mark and Fidele as
they hike top a Fulbe village this week to begin building a
relationship with the people there.  Thank you so much for praying for
us!
Well there is much much more I could write but this will suffice for
now.  We are all well as a family but I am keeping very busy treating
everything from infections, bronchitis, the Flu, motorcycle crash
injuries, knife cuts, sprained limbs, etc.  In fact, before breakfast
today I had 12 who came to "sick call" for various needs.  Please pray
for wisdom for me and my medic assistants (Bethany, Rachael, and an
African woman named Loveline) whom I am training to help me.
Much Love & As Always We Are Also Praying For You!
The Waites in Cameroon

Thanks again for all of your prayers!!!!
Have a wonderful Sunday tomorrow, worshipping the Lord!!!!
Held by Grace,
Sara