The Home of Refuge

Hi to all my loved ones and those praying for us. We have felt those prayers and I am grateful for them. After 2 days of fever, chills, diahhrea and nausea, I woke today feeling so much better and grateful for it. What a privilege to be a part of this team and of what God has been doing in our midst. This orphanage is an incredible thing to behold! The children are amazing as well as their staff! Yesterday afternoon we had such fun putting on a carnival for the children. We had several games for the children to play. They also enjoyed us face painting and making paper flowers. The children had so much fun and received many prizes. A highlight for them was eating popcorn that was popped by an air popcorn popper that we brought with us. They loved it as did their cook who was so excited to have the popcorn popper. One young lady that has captured my heart has my full name, Angela Rose backwards, she is Rosa Angelica. Amazingly enough is that her sister is Angela Ballentina. They were tickled that the 3 of us have the same name, Angela. Today, as I headed down to the garden to continue our work I took a nice nose dive going over a goat and landed in a swampy mess. Covered in mud and slop, I picked up my hoe and started digging up the rest of the garden. Just another one of my clutzy moves. I also help bandage Jeremy up who went sliding down rocks to get a soccer ball for the boys and ended up tearing the back side of his pants right off as well as brush burning his upper thigh pretty badily abd cutting his hand. Believe me when I say we are the walking wounded and have several badges of honor (wounds). Though we continue to be plagued by injuries of interesting proportions, God has been so kind to each of us in protecting us from serious injury. I also have enjoyed, even in the midst of illness and injury, being a soccer goalie for the boys during VBS games. Even though I am the mom of three boys, it has been a long time since I have been this athletically challenged, but what fun I am having. The boys seem to be enjoying me as their goalie as well. It is really hard to put into words what being here is like. Words cannot really do it justice. I love seeing the faithfulness of God. When we are out here away from loved ones, away from what is comfortable and known, we are completely and utterly dependent upon God and each other. He continues to prove Himself faithful and trustworthy. We have had great challenges and trials (more than can be mentioned) and yet we have experienced great blessings, love, joy, peace, and a special comraderie that comes from bonding together through this all. We have one more work day and we will be able to accomplish all that God set before us. We finished the fence and gate on the garden and tomorrow we will plant seeds. The chicken coup is finished except for some fencing that needs to be done. The swing sets will be set in cement tomorrow and swings hung. As I look forward to being with my family in a couple of days a piece of my heart will be left behind. God calls us to join Him in His work and what a blessing it has been to have answered this call. Blessings to you all. I love you my family. Angie