Ricks parents arrive in Nelspruit South Africa.. what a blessing to see them for the first time in nearly two years!
We caravaned back up to the Farm, with Ron and Barb of Mercy Air. They had a trailer so it was a bit slower going for them, at one point when we stopped to wait, mom and dad decided to for a stroll.. on the "highway".... as one friend pointed out.. the BIKE is on the pavement and the truck is on the shoulder... typical!
After many days of travel, Tendai got to meet grandma and grandpa! What a special moment!
On sunday we went to visit Pastor Paulos church in Honde. The last time we went they were meeting under a tree, now they are meeting under a thatch roof! In this picture two children bring offering. We were so humbled when they gave us a love offering of melons, maize, bananas, etc. Many of those people did not recieve ANYTHING off their fields this year, and it was a huge sacrifice to give us some food. It is so humbling to recieve a blessing like that from those who have so little. To refuse it would be offensive, but wow... is it hard.
A young girl came up and asked for prayer- she was suffering from malaria- I absolutely love watching Rick pray for those in need.
Tendai having a good cuddle with grandma!
Afterwards Dave and Kathy helped to hand out a small loaf of bread and a cup of juice to the kids in the orphan program at pastor paulos church.
On Tuesday we visited our school kids. Mom and Dad instantly made friends with about thiry preschool kids... they didnt even freak out too badly when Dad started doing his crazy face teeth falling out trick!
We also helped serve Lunch to the school kids.
The kids enjoy a healthy meal every school day. And you can tell they are thankful! Look at that smile!
Another major event from this week was the raising of the water tank at the Training center- this will make a huge difference as the guys can now get water pretty much whenever they need it for cement!
Dad helping to attach the fittings.
WATER!
We visited the pre-school one day as well.
Me making friendship bracelets with a group of orphan girls and students from our school that are now studying in Chitundo. Its a great way to be involved in their lives and find out what the issues they are facing are.
Tendai REALLY wanted to make a bracelet. She kept copying how the older girls were moving their hands.
Rick spoke about having faith, and backed it up by falling into the boys arms!
Gabriel, a young man the mission is sponsoring, prayed for the meeting.
And.. just cus weve had a number of creepy crawly encounters lately... here is a Puff Adder that one of the guards killed this morning. Two days ago there was spitting cobra killed.. and this afternoon rick tried to kill TWO green mambas down the path from our house.
and last but not least.. a photo of a REALLY big bug. eww.
We have been enjoying having family out soooo much. It is so great to see people from back home after being away for so long. It has been so special to see Tendai with her new grandma and grandpa, and for her to meet her first extended family members! Even with so much blessing though, we remember those around us who are not as fortunate. The rain situation is still very bad here, many have lost their entire crops. We also have many in our area suffering from Malaria, including one of our sponsored children.
In two weeks Rick and I will be with one of our sponsored children Bero, in South Africa as he undergoes a fairly involved surgery to release the skin contractures that limit his mobility greatly. They are the result of terible burns he recieved as a toddler. Please pray for him, for us as we minister compassion to him, and also that the needed funds will come in to cover the costs involved. We praise God that the surgeon donated his time, significantly lowering the costs.
We also are asking for continued prayer for Tendais paperwork- our petition for travel docs and for the adoption have been officially registered with the tribunal, and we are now waiting for the judge to aprove the travel docs. Our lawyer said he believes it could happen in time for her to travel down south with us.. we are really praying for them to be approved by Tuesday!
Thanks to all of you who have been praying, I have been having headaches for over a week now, and Im so thankful to all who prayed, as they seem to have gotten much better recently.
Again, thanks for the prayers! God Bless, Rick, Heather & Tendai
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