Wow, August disappeared quickly! Of course, it was very busy month for us, which may explain its rapid disappearance.
The month began with a church Youth retreat. Sam was there for most of the retreat and I joined for one morning to share a message along side Sam. We spoke about God's calling on our life, basically how we ended up in Mexico. Our encouragement to the youth was to not worry about what God is doing in other people's lives, but to trust His specific plan and timing for their own lives. Sam was blessed by his time spent with the youth as they warmly welcomed him.
An early morning hike to the top of a "mountain" at the Youth Retreat.
A week after the retreat, our children had the chicken pox. First one, then the next, and finally the last one. It was tiring week cooped up in the house, though it was a productive week for me because I completed a number of unfinished projects.
With the chicken pox healed up we were ready to have some guests. Who better to have over than Opa and Oma?! Sam's parents came for two weeks to visit and work. Sam's dad helped at the ranch building rabbit cages while Sam's mom hung out with the kids and visited at the orphanage. They also brought a wheelchair for Kimberly which was generously donated by "Bibles For Missions" in Grimsby. It is a little heavy, but extremely durable and well made for Mexican use.
Here is Kimberley and Oma with the new wheelchair.
At the end of their visit, we were able to take a short vacation with them in the state of Oaxaca. While traveling there was an adventure (read about it here), our time there was a real treat.
We spent almost all our time in the pool!
We weren't the only ones with visitors this past month. A weekend conference was held at the church by Living Waters, teaching the people how to share the gospel through stories with people who are unable to read. This is an important initiative in a place where many people are illiterate. A work team also came from California for a week of painting in the church and in the orphanage. Typically the work teams are only English speaking, but this team way completely fluent in Spanish, which helped them to build relationships with the children.
School began again in August, but with a big change for the orphanage. Previously a number of the children attended a private school, while some of the children had school at the orphanage. This year all the children are being taught at the orphanage. The children are enrolled in a program called A.C.E. With its specific curriculum for each learner, it is a good fit for the education needs of the orphanage and meets government requirements.
It continues to be rainy season here. Jude has been asking lately when it will end. All of us have been wondering that. Earlier this year the city fixed a drainage problem just down the road from the orphanage. Unfortunately their solution has lead to flooding inside the orphanage during heavy downpours. A short term solution has been found, but a long term solution is needed, a solution which only the cleverest mind could find given the mysterious nature of plumbing here.
In just six weeks we will be saying farewell to everyone here and returning to Canada. Earlier we had prayed that we would remain focused on our work here and not check out mentally nor emotionally too early. It looks like our full calendar will help keep us focused here and also help the time pass quickly. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement as we finish our work in Arriaga.
Love Sam, Wendy, Hannah, Jude, Jeremiah and Baby Dieleman
Prayer Items:
- Relief from on-going, bothersome car troubles and plumbing difficulties for the orphanage.
- Thanksgiving for the great response to the coverage about the El Faro on Christian World News.
- Thanks that the block machine arrived and the blockhouse is nearly completed.
- Wisdom for decisions concerning baby Rebecca's leg.
- A Mexican worker for the babies is still needed.
- Praise God for an education program which suits the needs of the children well.
- God's directions in short and long terms plans for our family.
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