So much has happened... where do I start?

On Friday the 16th Marlene finally returned, with her sister Laura, and we were full staff! What a blessing! When she returned Regina gave Joel back to her care so Regina had an adjustment to make without a little one to run after.

On Saturday the 17th we had a wonderful job to do... we went to the airport and brought Virgil, Liz & Rachel back with us. Having our dear family come share in our lives is SO special! We enjoyed having Virgil preach for us on Sunday. Even with an interpreter. :) Then on Monday they went with us to take Noemy to the airport in Tijuana and we gave them a taste of Mexico by doing some shopping there too.

Noemy left for Costa Rica to spend 4 weeks with her family so we are again short 1 Mom. Regina again consented to take care of children (this time for Noemy) but this time she has 3 girls to watch. She does a wonderful job caring for them and still helping here with all the work... cleaning, cooking, laundry, even some sewing.

On with our week... the grand project for Tuesday was to butcher the hog that was ready! Virgil and Lorne had the plan all mapped out and after breakfast out they went to tackle the job. Well what do you do when you want to kill a hog and there's no gun? A sledge hammer and a knife... uh hum... it worked. And on to the job. Virgil took charge of the butchering then as Lorne got called to get some brick layers going on their job. Rachel & Liz were out helping with the gory work too, bless them! Once the hog was "dressed" they brought it into the kitchen and we got it into the pieces we wanted, then into the freezer. What a blessing!

"Hmmm..."

The view is better from the top!

Also on Tuesday, James & Debra Brubacher came and plan to stay for 6-8 weeks. He'll be managing the schoolhouse construction which will be really nice for Lorne and Darin! They are also just helping anywhere needed and we're enjoying them here.

This is the week 'Orphans For Jesus' is in Mexico and so they sent help here for 3 days this week and our staff took turns going with them to help at other orphanages. We had brick laid for a fence, windows and walls cleaned, floors scrubbed and help with the children.

On Wed. eve the OFJ group was all here (55 people) and we had a hymn sing here. And in English! It was so refreshing to share together in worship through song.

All too soon it was Thursday and time to take Virgil's to the airport again. Rachel went with us and after the airport we did our grocery shopping and a few thrift stores then back to the airport to pick up Edna Mast, who is helping here for 2 weeks. Then back to the home.

Backing up to Mon. a bit... Teresa left us on Monday to go back to her mother. It was so hard for her to go and for us to see her go. She had been here 10 mo. She wanted to go to her mother but also be with her family here. We do know where she lives so we hope to go visit her there.

At the same time the DIF came for Teresa they brought a 7 mo. old baby girl. Her name is Lucia and Milena is her Mom here.

Tania & Lucia

While we were shopping in San Diego on Thursday we got a call from the Moms saying the DIF called and wants to bring us 4 babies! Wow! So Lorne discussed it with the board and we talked of the possible ways to care for them and decided we would try. Talk about excitement here! We could expect them on Friday. So the Moms spent this morning getting things ready and cleaned for the new ones. Just after lunch they came... 3 boys and a girl. Along with the babies came a 12 yr old girl who is actually the mother of the baby girl. It tears at your heart to see her sad, sad eyes and her scared look as she faces all these new people and a new place. Only a child herself, she doesn't even know how to care for her little one. What an opportunity to show her God's love through our love for her!

One thing we have learned since we're here is that we can plan out our days ever so well, but many times God has a different plan. He has an agenda for us, we just need to be ok with what He allows or brings to us! One of my favorite verses is,

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Today we drove to the border and Lorne & the children did some hiking.

And Rachel so kindly offered to help with the chores tonight!



God's best to you all in the coming week!

Our little princess!

Our hearts are full!

Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which thou hast done,

and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward. Ps 40:5

How do you express such thankfulness, such awe, such praise to the wonderful God that we serve? Again He has shown Himself strong on our behalf!

We've been considering what we're going to do for school here at home. We needed teachers and Raquel was willing to teach but was doing most of the cooking. We didn't have anyone else available to cook. Yet, we weren't sure what our time frame would be, so we were not actively pursuing an answer. Last Sat. Heidi came and said her friend from Sinoloa, Mexico would like to come here to cook. How does God do that?!! She was contacted yet that day and she said she's ready and can be here Fri.! She arrived this morning and will be our main cook.

Earlier this week we had decided that we should, by faith, go ahead with getting out the schoolbooks and getting started here. Regina Miller and Raquel are excited about teaching and are ready to start Mon. morning. We had not yet made any progress with the officials concerning not sending them to the public school and knew that our time was running on faith since the public school was in session again this week. On Thurs. a man came from the school and asked that Leland call him about the fact that the children are not coming to school.

We gave the message to Leland and later received a call from him with good news. The teacher at the school was offering to help us by keeping the children enrolled in her school but letting them do their studies here. There are, of course, many more details but the meaning for us is that the threat of losing the children is removed at this time! Praise the Lord! Thank You God! And thanks to all of you who lifted us to the Father in this situation! Never, ever underestimate the power in prayer!

So we again face schedule changes and a new routine for the children. Yet, we know that God has all those details already laid out for us; reviewed and approved by Him and feel such peace to follow those plans!

Blessings to you all!

Our Very Special Family!

Every day will I bless thee...

Blessed be the Lord my strength... my goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and He in whom I trust.

Wow! This week has been a week of testing for us. And yet, a week of God's presence! Yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord... even when not everything is as we would like.
On Friday was our grocery day again and it seemed many other things as well. So we had a lot of stops and it was a long day. When we were almost finished at the grocery store, which was our last stop, we got a call from Dustin saying he was bit on his finger by what he thinks was a black widow spider. He said it was hurting but not really swelling or looking strange so Lorne talked to Nevin and told him they should do some research on treatment while we finish and come home. Lorne then called Gordon to see if they have any experience with bites and we concluded we should probably try to do something soon. We talked again with the children and he said it looks like a mosquito bite but not too bad and he feels ok. We were on the way home and decided to just go home and decide from there. We have at least a half hour drive home which gives us plenty of time to pray and commit any crisis into the Lord's hands and so we did. When we got back they were eating supper and he was bouncing around as usual. He said he really can't hardly see where the bite was and it doesn't hurt at all anymore! Hmmm... The other children had seen the bite and also some of the Moms, so we know this wasn't just his made up story. Ok, Thank You, God! is all we can say.
So, Saturday morning I really wanted to post such a blessing. Well, of all things, the internet isn't working! great! Oh well, I'll wait.

Then Sunday the youth and lots of children went hiking out back. Darin agreed to take the truck with some younger ones to pick up the hikers and give the children a ride. On the way back, for whatever reason, Brent was just standing on the running board and decided to jump off and walk with some others. Oh yeah, he landed on something that twisted his foot and he landed on his back. By Mon. morning his neck was really sore. Well, Lord we need some more help here! In the afternoon, several Moms wanted to go to town to a chiropractor. Ok Brent, let's go. And yes, he felt much better. By the way, while on this hike, they saw a mountain lion! Yes, excitement!!

On Sunday Tania started running a fever and had a very restless night. She had a bad cold and was very congested. So we decided to take her to the Dr when we went to town. He said she was a very sick baby. We got numerous meds and a nebulizer machine to give her respiratory treatments. Right now they are every 4 hr.s day and night. But, she is much better already and it's worth the loss of sleep to have her smiling again and breathing better!

Oh yeah, it was Mon. eve when the internet returned. And then, what do you know! Tues. eve, after quite a few weeks of plenty, we were again out of water here!

Day by day we give our day to God and not once has He left us alone! What joy is ours even in the midst of inconveniences and difficulties when we know that He is in control of all things! Today the weather is 75 degrees and sunshine! Now that makes for encouragement!
I need to run along and will try to update later on more changes and happenings here!
Love to all of you and thanks for your prayers! We need them!