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!