We Bless the Children!

Team #3 is about to wrap up their work week and when I think about what they've done here for the home that they worked at this past week.....blessed, blessed, blessed. Last year we started the kitchen project for Vida Ilimitada a home for approx. 25 children and untill now the project has just set with nothing being done. Lack of funds is always the reason. This week we were able to finish the 1st floor concrete roof along with finishing the outside painting of the directors house...3 story high! Thanks for your prayers of safety as the teams work in those conditions high above the ground. Time with the children is always a blessing too. I'm sure the team is as blessed as the children as they do crafts, play soccer and hang out. The big hit this year for the kids is painting small wooden crafts. It's amazing how gifted some of the children are in their creativity. Saturday we visited Casa Shalom and had a pizza party for them, devouring all but 36 ex large pizzas, cake, chips, and lots of drink. Sometimes I wonder where it all goes. a director recently told me about a child that had just come to their home from the city dump because of malnutrition and when they had their first pizza party the young boy had 27 pieces! He didn't know when his next meal would come! The director said "every young boy needs the opportunity to fill up once in his lifetime".
Yesterday was the 2 year anniversary of our coming into Guatemala to serve with ORI. It has been a wonderful experience with many  friends and co-workers walking along side of us on our journey. In the last 10 years ORI has noticeably become a known ministry in Guatemala, developing relationships with many orphanages and partnering with other ministries that care for the children at risk. There is so much needed here and my prayer is that God would continue to bless our work, giving wisdom to those making decisions regarding direction and growth of the ministry. If you're not aware of the overall scope of our work, connect yourself with us at http://www.orphanresources.org/ 
Our week ahead will be preparing for the next team, coming March 7th. Woohoo!...Randy Weaver our past director here will be leading the team of 15 ladies. I think he's really needing to get away from the cold and wants to see us! We may even need to celebrate his arrival with some big fireworks!

Blessings to all, Jim and Sheryl

Ready... Set... GO!

It's Sunday night and what goes through my mind is...are we ready! With another team coming in tomorrow the work week begins. Usually there is a full week to get everything ready but this week was full of other events, but we're ready. We'll be working again at Vida Ilimatada on the new kitchen and bodega being built. We should be able to finish grouting the first floor walls and pour the ceiling that the locals are supposed to have ready for us. We'll be finishing the painting of the outside of the young boys and directors home. Also I'm told that some trees need to be cut down and wood split for the cook since the budget is scraping the bottom. It should be a good week though...cause it's the Lancaster folks that get the job done.
Other events of the week included a visit from a Childrens HopeChest group visiting 7 homes in two days...talk about a busy schedule! Two days filled from early morning into the evening making some very good contacts with directors and the children. Seven men from a bible study that's been together for 16 years in the Colorado Springs area. I belive God will use these men in a mighty way providing for the children of Guatemala. Yesterday the staff of ORI were hosted by the 19 children at LaSenda to a Valentines party in appreciation for the many ways that we have helped them. Had a great time as the kids paired of with us for the event. Brunch, Guatemalen style...2 kinds of black beans, an egg dish, white rice pudding with raisins, torillas, and a fruit yogurt cup.
Had a great donation this week from one of our local stores. $1000 to be used for purchase of anything of our choice from their store. We've decided to buy sugar which we narmally purchase from them each month. With our budget running a little tight, this was the right decision. A few days after the donation we were called and they offered to ORI all the day old bread and pastry 5 days of the week. One day this week it was 26 dozen donuts. What a blessing...to be delivered with other items to the homes we visit every day. God is good!

Have a great week, Jim and Sheryl

Quick Wrap Up of the Week...or weeks!

I guess it's because we've started our busy team season that I just haven't taken time to post for a few weeks...sorry! It's been exciting around here with a team leaving, then a visit from the home office by Rod and Sarah Martin and another board member, then another team. Wow, it just keeps going. This afternoon I go to the airport at 3:00pm then with one traveler from Childrens HopeChest, Sheryl and I go to meet the team that's leaving tomorrow morning, to do the debriefing and thank them for their generous efforts this past week. Then on the return trip through the city we'll stop and pick up 3 more from CHC on an 8:00pm  flight and bring them to our place or Dennys for the night. Then another part of their group arrives at 10:00 so we'll go back to the city to pick them up yet before the night ends. Tomorrow I'll be traveling with the CHC group to see 5 homes then on Tuesday we'll visit 4 to wrap up their stay since they leave on Wednesday. 5 days to catch our breath then a group of 25 come for a week from Pa. for another week of work at Vida Ilimitada. Sheryl and I have been taking care of keeping those that don't work with concrete and construction busy painting. I guess that's our specialty....at least Sheryl can claim the brush washing and cleanup as a specialty. Yesterday we spent most of the day with the team at another home visiting, doing crafts with them and then having a pizza party together with all the staff and kids. 18 Giant pizzas can be eaten pretty fast when the kids haven't had it for close to a year. They even said this time that it's a favorite over Pollo Camperro!! Sheryl then treated them to home made cookies, 5 varietys, which even though their stomachs were full, they had room for one or more.I think the team enjoyed them also!