It all began at 6 a.m. with the foster mothers at our home for “abandoned children” reporting a theft and a runawa
I’ve always said that when it rains it pours around here, and such was the story that day. It RAINED both drops from heaven, making the day super wet, windy, and cold (55F/15C), while it “rained” much sorrow for 4 small children in our care.
ABANDONEDCHILDREN (I call them my “Gaggle of Giggles”) ATTHEIROUTDOORBREAKFASTTABLE.
EMILIA, the 19 year old leader of the “child headed household” whom we rescued last January when her mud hut collapsed in a storm, ABANDONED her 2 children and her 2 orphan brothers during church time last Sunday. The foster mother, Atija and trainee mother, Marcelina, told us that they had the 9 little children dressed and ready for church, when Emelia refused to leave with them. Upon their return at noon, the foster mothers realized that much of the children’s food was missing. A quick look revealed that Emelia and all her clothes were also missing. The mothers decided to wait till Monday to see if she returned on her own, but it was pretty clear that Emelia had taken what she could carry and run away. Five days have past and with no word about where she is. Pretty obvious she has left Balama.
GOD’S PROVISIONISALWAYSRIGHTONTIME
TENDAYSAGO, a widow named Marcelina answered our “verbal ad” for a widow who would like to train as a “relief” foster mother. We realized that since all our foster mothers are getting up in age, we needed a woman ready to “step in” if a mother falls ill or suddenly graduates to heaven.
Marcelina filled that bill, showing excellent work skills and love for the children. With this incident, we elevated her to permanent foster mother, and she moved into our “abandoned children’s home” that same Monday afternoon, bringing her 5 and 9 year old children with her.
We praise the Lord that this situation could be rectified so easily. All the children love Marcelina which has made their transition to a new “Mom” easier for these 4 little ones.
GRANNYWALKS 20 MILESTOBEGHELP
Granny Palmira as she arrived at our mission with Delton, 4, and Julio, 2.
Granny Palmira carried 2 year old Julio and held the hand of 4 year old Delton as they walked 20 miles through the bush to seek refuge in one of our homes. A member of our remote Njanjaway (N‑John-jah-way) Church led by Pastor Alberto in Namuno District, Palmira heard him talk about our program in Balama
Jorgina, 3, and Baby Sandra, 1, now learning to walk, enjoy a safe play area as the men build them a new fence. Teenager Felimina, when not in school, loves watching over Sandra. Who needs dolls when you have the real thing to play with!
After 2 months of begging help in her area, (her house had fallen down and she had no food left), she took it upon herself to leave her few belongings and walk to our Balama mission station without telling anyone. This “threesome” arrived on Wed. at noon with only a small purse containing the children’s Birth Certificates and the cloths on their backs.
While they ate some lunch at our worker’s kitchen, we confirmed her story via a trusted friend. He stated he knew her well, and that she was truly close to giving up hope. He also stated that Palmira was not exaggerating when she stated she was desperate to save her grandchildren. He was not surprised she had walked that long distance through dangerous bush to find us
As one who despises “red tape” and long delays while the answers are obvious, I gathered Pastor Fred and Children’s Director Anna into a huddle and we “made a plan”. Took all of 5 minutes for we are a team of action!
The very next day we had a grandmother leaving for their home village with her grandchildren. We had given them temporary refuge from their mentally ill mother. With that problem resolved, they had requested to move back to their home village to be near family.
Palmira and her 2 grandchildren were given everything they needed, (your love gifts at work), and taken to a spare bedroom of that very home for the night.
Their joy was evident in their faces as they saw their new home after 2 months of sleeping outside!
The next day, we loaded up the family that desired to leave, and took them back to their home village.
BIGJOB almost done as men dig final post holes for the fence at the “Abandoned Children’s Home”.
Combine 9 “vulnerable” little ones, most under the age of 5 with the oldest being 8, and a busy dirt road outside the back of their house, and you get an “accident waiting to happen” type scenario. With a special gift from an anonymous donor, I was able to purchase 3 rolls of 6 ft./1.8 meter chain link fencing that would give these precious little ones a bit more security. Building the fence around this 1 acre home site was a 2 day job for a 12 man team as each hole had to be dug by hand.
This fence will pay high dividends as these little ones have had several close calls with speeding motorbikes that now use this once “quiet” dirt road for a speedway to avoid the cops. OURHEARTFELTTHANKSGOOUTTOOURANONYMOUSRSADONOR!
SALVATIONBREAKTHROUGHWITHCORNWORKERS!
80+ men just made a life changing decision, thanks to God’s Fire “burning through Balama”.
Friday, July 8th, was a special day for all of us, as our daily devotions REAPED A HUGEHARVEST!
As I awoke at 4 a.m., I felt a “calm” in my spirit. As we approached our 5:30 a.m. devotions time with the workers, that “calm” turned to a burning FIRE in my spirit. We had over 100 men gathered, most who worked for us during the 1st corn buying. All had come to confirm their names for our 2nd corn buying which begins on Monday, the 11th. (Jobs for 90% of these men were already confirmed, so what I am about to describe was not a false move to persuade me to hire them.)
We sang and prayed, when suddenly the “FIRE” inside my spirit came forth in a flood of powerful words. (God’s anointing had hit full force!)
I described Hell and Heaven to these men in great detail, using examples from true testimonies of people I know.
Explaining that after death there are only 2 roads available to them. Most had heard the gospel, but failed to truly understand it’s importance in determining their eternal existence. Well, theLORD’S FIRE hit them deep in their hearts that morning.
MOSTRAN from where they were standing and hit their knees where Pastor Fred and I were standing! It was quite a site to see! Pastor Fred led them in the sinner’s prayer. We then counseled them on how to begin their walk with Jesus.
THEHARVESTISRIPE, MYFRIENDS,
ANDGODISMOVINGIN A VERYPOWERFULWAYALLOVERTHEWORLD.