Tio Gary is also known to be the mender of soles! Shoe repair is not beyond him! What a guy! Merm and Lauren...take note! :)
Marcos...a top student in his school!!!
Oscar & Pablo...anticipating the pictures we projected on the wall. The kids really love to see the pictures that are current and the ones from previous years!
Cielo...decorating a poster for Gary's mom
Please pray for Jovan. He is an awesome kid, gentleman, great soccer player and a handsome young man. But, he is hurting from the fact that there is no dad in his life. Jovan is craving a dad. Unfortunately he won't be adopted since his mom works here...but there is still hope that his mom might meet a man that would be a dad to him.
Cactus anyone??? It's really yummy...and squeeks against your teeth!
Leslie enjoying a seat to herself...which is rare!
Andrea...can you read her shirt?
Briza and Johana
Mayela and Jennifer
Two brothers who are dreaming of a forever home. Unfortunately it will be hard to find a home for them because Ramon has cerebral palsy. They are so loving...and in desperate need of a mom and dad of their own.
The twins and their tio!
Their hair is a work of art!
Oliver designing a special birthday card for our son-in-law Neal!
Jackie, Juan Diego, Jazmine, Karely and Brenda...craving a man who will be a dad to them.
Chunky sugar???
...the solution...just a little bit of elbow grease is required!
Great news for Julian! He is our only baby here...and he has Down's Syndrome. A wonderful Christian family in Chihuahua has decided to adopt him. His mom and dad are both lawyers...so hopefully the case will go quickly!
Luis
Girl talk...Jenifer and Adidlene
Marsela, Gabby and Alberto on their ride home from school!
Karla, Oscar and Jose Ramon
It's cookie time!
Look who was begging for an extra piece of chocolate!
Everyone likes to put the chocolate kiss on top!
Ok, so tomorrow is our last day...who's counting. I have decided to bury my head in the sand and not deal with it right now. Today I am loving on the children, playing silly games with them and taking more time than usual to listen to their individual sweet voices...because I want to be able to remember them all through the summer.
It has been a busy time around here...as usual. The outside shell to the new girls dormitory is almost completed. It has been decided to not build a dining hall so the money will be used for a second dormatory. Ed and Rosa both feel that they need to keep an eye on the girls...and have interaction with them throughout the day. So, the girls will be eating here and enjoying devotions here. There has been a struggle with the girls remembering to dress modest...which is a typical battle with teenage girls. We think this is a good decision for now.
Tonight we are going out to eat with Ed and Rosa. This is the first time since we've been here...because the schedules have been so crazy. We are looking forward to the evening because they are such awesome people. It has been a real honor to work beside them...and we have grown.
Right now several children are suffering from sore throats and a bad cold. Please pray for them. The good thing is that we now have medicine we can give them...but I hate to see them feel bad.
If God keeps on blessing our efforts, we may have several children who will have orphan status and will be available to be adopted. I have been praying about this...because we will need homes soon. Once these children have 'orphan status' DIF (the Mexico children's courts) is expecting us to come up with homes for them. The children who I have been doing the paperwork for...know what is going on (as far as adoption goes). So...they are already asking who their mom and dad will be. I tell them it will be someone very special who will love them with all their heart! They quite often ask if their family will have a house to live in. I used to wonder why...but not after realizing that many of them have wandered around in streets for most of their little lives scrounging for food. For those who had homes...they faced terrible abuse. These kids aren't perfect...in fact...most of them are broken by tremendous hurts. But I know of a BIG God who is in the healing business. I know first hand how this works! Thank you, Jesus!!! So, we need a concert of prayer...asking God for moms and dads. Will you help me pray?
Gary and I have started packing but we don't know what is happening. We are struggling to get everything in our suitcases. What have we bought? Only 4 bottles of vanilla. The odd thing is that we sent about 1 1/2 suitcases full of stuff we hauled down here home with our Michigan group so we'd have more room on the way back home. I know that Gary is concerned that I might be sneaking some of the kids in our suitcases. Smart man...I married! I can't reassure him that there isn't any living thing in our suitcases...because of all the bugs. In fact...I guarantee that our suitcases are filled with life...but not the kind I wanted to bring home.
Please pray for us...we will be saying our good-byes tomorrow and I can't bear the thought!
5 comments:
Please let us know which specific kids may become available. We have been approved for 3 kids and are ready, willing, and able. We are also confident that we can identify good families in our current and former churches.
Jay & Traci
Folks who would like insight into what many Lily kids are thinking & feeling should read the book Castaway Kid by Rob Mitchell and published by Focus on the Family. Rob was abandoned & grew up in an orphanage. He has written a great book and is a phenomenal speaker.
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE LEAVING. It feels like part of me is leaving all over again. Tonight I was cleaning up a bit because I'm expecting company this weekend :) , and I came across all the little notes I saved from the kids. I know you already know this, but hang onto that stuff. The papers are laced with that good ol' Mexican dirt, and most of the writing isn't completely ledgable, but I know who they're from, and it means everything. I can't get over God's goodness and the way He's used you and Gary. I can't get over His sovereignty and that by His grace, you guys have been able to sacrifice so much for the sake of these orphaned children. I've told you before and I'll tell you again soon- thank you for giving your lives to these kids. Thank you for sharing the gospel with them so boldly and unashamedly, despite the obvious barriers of language and culture. It's changing them for eternity. Now go home and rest, because I'm praying you'll be right where you are in a few short months.
Aha.... I have a thought!!! Kinda unusual huh ??? Well, how about you take tons and tons of pictures that you can bring home and post them once you get home.Pretty clever ....huh?...You could take one of my kids....and another.... and another.....some of them alone together, with friends, and....oh ....sorry (wink)...I cant say enough, Isee its all been said here....keep up the good works,and come home and get some rest.GOD is not finished yet. CYA here and looking forward to it.Fred
First I wanna Say a Giant thank you for all you have done. I am going to miss this link to lily, as much as you will miss those sweet faces...who are forever etched in your heart. Anyway have a safe trip and pack lots of tissue.
Jay and Traci:
how are you? been thinking about you. WFEC has two groups this summer going to Lily.btw I lost your new email.Tell mariah I said Hi
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