Mural Painting

 While at Dulce Refugio, we worked with the kids and leaders to paint a mural on one of the walls of the new building.  It was a blast!

A couple pics from Benin

We just wanted to update you with a few pictures before we depart Abomey, Benin tomorrow.

This is Mama Arlette, the Children's home leader, where we worked with the kids and on some various building projects.  The kids are awesome.  She's reading out some letters the kids wrote to us on the last day.

This is Abbalo.  He's one of the orphans at the Children's home.  We got a chance to have a full-on water balloon fight in the courtyard.  Boys vs. Girls.  Abalo was the last man standing, so we eventually snuck up and doused him with water from the balloon bucket.  He was still smiling though.  

More updates to come.  We are on the eve of our departure to Togo.  Pray for safe travels!

The Calling, Chapter IV "TODAY"

What we're doing:
 Our task is to live and work in Togo near a huge hospital ship called the "Africa Mercy".  For at least 2 years, we will be hosts to the entire world by facilitating the work of volunteers who come to Africa to help make a difference in a world of need.  We will focus on building capacity and infrastructure in different countries' fragile health care systems.  We have facilitated short term work like this before in Quito, Ecuador.  We brought a group for 1 week to help a local church build a new facility and to work with kids at Vacation Bible School.  The challenges and cost of organizing and bringing a group of volunteers to an unknown environment are high, but the reward is SO MUCH HIGHER! 

Our Ecuador team leading songs for the kids at Vacation Bible School was hilarious.  Those kids just don't want to stop singing praises to God!

How we get there:

We will get to Africa only with the support and financial commitment of people who share in our vision to see lives changed for the better.  Our parent organization, Mercy Ships, is a global, non-profit organization, and will provide tax-deductible receipts to US donors.  We must be fully funded before we leave in June, 2010 with consistent monthly support.  Would you consider joining our support team at home?  If so, please CLICK HERE

Why we do it:
We were in Quito, Ecuador and despite some awkward moments of mis-understanding and language trouble, we were un-phased and started working with the children.  Outside on the playground, the scene that unfolded before me tugged at my heart:  Andrew was out playing soccer with some of the boys.  Nick had a new best friend perched upon his shoulders, walking proudly through the playground, taking photos with his big camera.  Tess was playing basketball with some of the girls, exemplifying good character in sports.  Heather, who speaks quite a bit of Spanish, was virtually buried in a pile of young girls who asked all sorts of questions about everything faster than she could work out the answers in Spanish.  The others in our group were doing likewise, loving the children they came to help.  This is a work of love, and imparting hope in individuals.  I was moved by the scene.  The week came to an end, and there were many mixed emotions and stories: 


"There is so much more to do, and no more time!"
"I'm exhausted, but it is totally worth it."
"I want to come back."
"This has definitely broadened my perspective on life."

These comments fuel the fire which burns in Cecilia and I.  We want to see people come outside themselves and see a bigger world.  A world where God works in miraculous ways, and love is expressed not just with words, but with action.  We know that every mission trip or volunteer service is a two-way street, blessing both the giver and receiver.  We have committed to facilitate the work of volunteers from all over the world in Africa, and to be a catalyst for change where it is needed most:  In the heart.

Thank you.

Ecuador team: Cecilia and Nate organizing games

Ecuador team: Heather, in her "pile" of inquisitive girls with the boys playing soccer in the background.