A couple things have happen this month that we'd like to share.
First, the work here was featured in the last issue of Calvary Chapel Magazine. We received our copy this week. What a blessing. Also once the magazine came out the photographer was allowed to share his photos with us. We've been eating those up. I love seeing the work through other people's eyes. I hope to post some of them very soon.
Second, we've broken ground on our team house. It's been 10 years since we've added a building to the property and in a way it feels good and refreshing. We truly feel the ministry is gearing up for growth and this is a physical part we can see. It's a bit scary putting something permanent up we surely hope we get it right. :)
Third, something we've been working on for almost 9 months has been completed.
The license for the orphanage has been renewed. There was a big delay in the government as they restructured the Social Department. It was good day for us. The Minister of the department (equivalent to state department head) sat next to us and chatted jokingly for some time before the meeting started. They put us at the end of the meeting because we had no problems. So we sat and listened to others get yelled at for 3 hours. It was good for us because we could hear all the problems out there and gauge ourselves what are we doing what are we not doing.
Our turn came and the atmosphere turned pleasant and I'm not exaggerating. We went from thinking this guy could have us all killed if he wanted, to this was our best friend. The day was a moment of pride for the work being done.
Because the meeting was on Monday morning Ream and I got to stay in town Sunday night and eat dinner on mother's day. It was nice.
Fourth, we've begun making changes to our gardening programs. We're trying to make it a little more appealing and productive. We'll be creating a bit of a competition between the kids for production and appeal. This should reduce my getting on to them about the trash in the gardens and instill a bit more care and pride over the work with a little more reward for them.
Fifth, we have filled in our pond a very sad day for us as one of our very favorite events will never happen again. Catching the fish every year was something we've always looked forward to. Some of our fish we've had like 6 or 7 years. Our biggest catfish weighted 9 kilos (almost 20 pounds)
We are making changes to the animal areas making that more appealing also working on planning on adding a multi court where the kids can play basketball and learn tennis and so on.
We are doing this as we are creating more school next door it will serve both projects well.
Last staff came back from 2 day conferences both at the social affair and education meetings.
Both meetings went really well for us but the social went the best. Mr. Hak my assistant said a majority of the meeting our project was used as the example and stated that we are a role model they can learn from. They referenced a number of groups to us for training. The social also announced the closure of a number of orphanages through one church and has asked the local social workers to work with us on taking some of the kids rather than have them be put into the government system.
It was such a blessing to hear all the good news from the staff Monday.
So lots of good things happening around here.
