What, I still have another half to go?
GOD IS SO GOOD!
Want to know what He's done this first half?
Sweet Aroma, in the beginning. . .
Patzibal, Guatemala
We had a great time teaching the children in the village English.
It was also so much fun to clean and paint the newly built clinic, where many women came for pregnancy services and other minor medical concerns. 
We also had the pleasure
of helping another
organization plant 100
macadamia nut trees to
help keep the earth from
eroding.
This started as a slope. It made it very difficult to get down to the lower
garden. So Tess cut stairs with a shovel, I cut wood and nailed together
frames. We needed to buy concrete, but luckily God left us a bag at the
end of the driveway, sorry I forgot to come back and blog about that.
Literally, we were leaving to go get concrete and there in the gravel was
a ripped open bag of concrete. We were able to save most of it and fill in
a few stairs.
used these for fruit juice and other meal options. The extras we picked
were taken to the orphanage.
met some amazing kids, like this little one and a precious girl named Sindy (read my blog, Te Amo, to learn more.)
Sweet Aroma had one more stop in Central America to round out the first 3 months. AIM brought back the race aspect and we took that challenge, coming in second place. However, we won first place with the most amazing contacts! We lived with Pastor Eliab, his wife Karen and their two small girls. We all fell in love with this family. We also had the pleasure of an English translator, Eliab's friend Eliezer. Both men attended a Bible college, whose graduation we were able to attend. After only 2 weeks with these godly men, we were all so proud to watch them receive diplomas in the newly painted, by us, chapel. We were also able to help serve another church by helping them build a security wall. There were also a number of days we went door to door in different neighborhoods inviting members to join us for church services. We had fun organizing children's ministry for Eliab's church and his brother's church. Needless to say, once again the neighborhood kids knew us all well and so we were always busy!
Painting the gates to the chapel. It looked so nice at graduation.
This was my first experience makingrebar. We learned quickly how to
construct a wall. It was pretty
interesting, and if all else fails I can
get a job in construction.
We had so much fun with all the kids we met. Some from other churches, some from the neighborhood, and others along the way as we traveled door to door. Glad I brought a children's Bible and Tess had the flannel graphs!
Manila, Philippines
Ready for a new culture, we traveled across the globe to Asia. There was a significant change in food, culture and level of poverty we witnessed. Sure the people we visited in the other cities had been poor, but in the neighborhood of Tondo they were dirt poor. Children ran around extremely dirty, half dressed and using space to squat and relieve themselves. There was so much happening in this place I blogged nearly everyday I was healthy. This place taught me so much, and it felt as if the race had really just started.
On our first visit to fee the children living in the dump site and charcoal factory area I met this sweet child named, Stephanie. As I mentioned before, I blogged all about her family and situation. We visited these children several times, and every time I was able to spend time holding this beautiful girl telling her how much Jesus loves her. Towards the end of the month I was very sick and not able to say goodbye. However, I sent her a bag of goodies, along with a New Testament and a message for her. Perhaps someday I will get to see her again.
One of the best parts of being here the month of December was celebrating Christmas with them. My small group organized 200 bags containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, underwear, flip flops, and a small bowl for soup. We also had a feeding that was more than just soup; we gave out rolls, oranges, and a juice box. All of this was made possible by the extra support sent to us by friends and family.
We also had the pleasure of feeding the people staying in a local hospital. This was one of my favorite days because I was able to hold newborns like this guy all day long. (read my blog, What to expect) A few of my teammates spent a lot of time with the sick children and were able to provide medication that enabled those children to go home.
One afternoon we visited the hill tribes where many of the children being sold into the sex trade come from. I prayed that this little girl would never have to come to Remember Nhu, but if she did that she would make it there unharmed.
Spending time with the girls was such a blast! These two painted about 4 coats each of nail polish on my toes and fingers. Mostly on the flesh, not the nail. Several of the older girls were learning English, which was a great opportunity for me to do some tutoring. It was a little frustrating to figure out that they weren't learning much correctly.
Sweet Aroma, as we look today. We've added a member, Noah has more hair and each of us has changed in so many other ways. We've certainly come a long way since training camp.
So you see all this has been made possible by God and those He has called to help financially support me through this mission. If He can make all that happen in just 5 months, imagine what He'll use me for in the next 6! Please join me in this mission through Cambodia, India, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya.
Click on the Support Me link and help me add $3000 to my account by the final March 1 deadline. Please send an email to me when you do as well. It's such an encouragement!
GOD IS GOOD!
