I SPOKE TOO SOON...

... regarding the orphans' new home.  When Jane returned to the potential landlord a week later with the down payment he had requested, he attempted to jack up the price of rent AND demanded two years' rent in advance.  Even if that kind of money could be raised up front, you wouldn't be too smart to place it in the hands of a man who has proven himself so fickle and untrustworthy. 

So it's back to square one in the search for a new orphanage location.  Please lift the Director and Jane in prayer as they seek leads for a new place to house the orphans.  I am hoping the house God has in store will be even better than the one that fell through.  These kids deserve running water and electricity at the very least.

[Instant Update: Before I even finished writing this post, Jane called to say they had found another house - with running water, electricity and even more space!  Praise the Lord!  Please do pray, though, that this deal would go through to completion... I'm not going to assume it's a done deal until the orphans are moved in.]

We got to see the kids again this past Saturday morning for Bible Club.  Caleb hadn't been feeling well so he and Samuel stayed home.  All the orphans asked about them.  Vernel even made sure that when it came time to work on name tags, he completed the one Caleb had started two weeks before.

These kids continue to impress and inspire us with each visit.  Their smiles, their songs, their sincerity in learning Bible verses.  Even the way they handled the suckers we brought: placing them carefully on the table in front of them until everyone was served and they were given permission to enjoy them. 

Jane again led the kids in a Bible lesson.  This time explaining about placing faith in the great gift of God's Son and being welcomed into the family of God.

The most exciting part, by far, was the fact that two of the adult volunteers and one of the girls professed faith in Christ for the first time!  Jane led us all in prayer over them.

There is such a sweet spirit of unity within the house and among the kids - it is something I wish all my friends and relatives could experience firsthand.  I recently posted on Facebook a picture of one of three tarantulas living outside our back door and had many friends comment about how they would not ever be visiting us as a result.  I hope they were joking because, if nothing else, a trip to The Potter's House ... even a short one ... would be worth enduring a hundred tarantulas. 

To close, I have to share some other recent photos.  These kids really mug it up for the camera sometimes!

They laughed their heads off when I showed them this one!

And a few photos from two weeks ago of drawings the kids did.  They were so proud of their creations - as they should be!

 

 

 

God IS Good, indeed!