More November Activity and Update

Greetings from Vietnam,

The work continues regarding paperwork and licenses being attained for the orphanage, however it is a slow process.  Things do work very differently on this side of the globe, especially where we’re at, but this has been the assignment given from the Father, so we follow His lead step by step with much prayer.  We do have an important update though: 

We’ve all decided that Don and I will be going back over to Cambodia where the goal is to start a work going on there, while waiting on the delays here.  We can be of more help right now getting things started on that end.  It was originally planned to wait on this, but with the down time here, this seems to be a good option. Mark and the rest of the team will stay in HCMC or possibly join us later on.  We’re in the process of planning this move now, which will take place in the next 8 to 10 days.  We’re excited about this because we have several friends and important connection for Lotus House there.  We’ll also be able to see and visit the Bible School that we helped start, and possibly do some teaching.   There is so much more we’d like to share with you about the work, but it would not be expedient at this time.  We are looking forward to having a little more flexibility after our move.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers. God is doing awesome things over here and we’re so honored to be a part of it, as you are too, at home supporting and praying.

Recently we spent a weekend in the city of Da Lat.  It is a beautiful city with quaint little streets and plants and flowers everywhere.  We were here in January as well during their Flower Festival.  It was a great time for Don and I to get away from our hotel room in the country where there is not much to do.

We also hung out with some new friends and spend a lot of time talking about our mutual Friend.  Others joined us and we had an amazing time!  :)

Later we had a lovely dinner date at a local hotel restaurant.  A real treat!

A grateful time together

Thanksgiving

We thank the Father that we were all able to be together for Thanksgiving Dinner.  It was fun seeing everyone at the Lotus House property, walking through the grounds and visioning ahead how the orphanage will be laid out on the land and collecting bamboo sticks.  Later we sat around each giving thanks before dinner.

We pray your Thanksgiving was blessed with family and friends and the Love of the Lord in your midst.

We were able to spend the weekend in a tourist city called Da Lat.  It is very beautiful with lots of flowers and interesting architecture.  We had been here before in January during their Flower Festival,  but this time we enjoyed visiting with friends and sharing the Father's love.

On Saturday was asked to share with some awesome young ladies at a Cafe.  So much fun hanging out with these single ladies talking about life and the goodness of our mutual Friend!

Cambodian Orphanages

One of the areas very dear to my heart are the orphanages and the various treasures God has placed in each one.  At one, we find the children very shy and not sure about these "white people" coming through.  Some have recognized us from previous visits and are anticipating some goodie or treat in store.  And then there are those who sit in the corner, in the meeting room, and quietly talk to one another but not quite trusting of anyone else.  All come from different backgrounds and circumstance.  Some have lost parents, others have been taken from parents, yet others cannot remember their parents. Others it would not be prudent to share about in this posting.

This little gal latched on to Don
the whole time we were there.

So we come in and each of us give an encouraging word, telling them how much the Father loves them, to hold on to their dreams.  Then we each get to sit on the floor with different ones, passing out whatever it was we brought for them and exchanging names etc.  I gave each of them a  sticker for their hand, forehead or cheek and they loved it.  It was fun being able to love on them one on one.

At two other orphanages things were quite different.  These children were happy to see us from the time we set foot on the grounds.  We were surrounded by children hugging or holding our hands and saying Hello in a Cambodian accent.  They quickly took us by the hand and led us to the house so they could show us their rooms etc.  It was a happy group of children and most seemed to have lived there for more than 5 years.  It was so easy to fall in love with them, and so hard when it came time to say goodby.

There were many pictures we were able to take, but without being sure of backgrounds we didn't feel at liberty to share them at this time for safety reasons.  The little girl with Don had been orphaned as very young child and had had surgery for a cleft lip.  She's a precious little angel.

Pray with us for these children.  Some backgrounds are sad while others may be horific and are still healing, but they are all still precious ones that the Father loves and has a destiny and future for each one to walk out.

Water Filters for School and Village

We are excited with all that Father is doing here, and we're honored to work with Mark and Jessica Nietz of "Why Not Now Ministries". There are many areas of ministry that we cover including helping start schools that will teach the Word, and delivering water filters in remote villages and other places where there is desperate need for clean water.  

Here are the IVBI students in Cambodia along with the WNNM team.  These students were faithful and traveled far and through difficult road conditions to learn more about the Father and His Word.  They are eagerly waiting for their next classes to start in January.  Pray with us that the needed funds will come in for the school.








Students receiving water filters.  These will be taken back to their village farms to supply clean water for their family's and neighbors.

Below are pictures from a remote village we visited in Cambodia.  The people were so warm and friendly.  They definitely left an imprint on our hearts.

Village Children

Don teaching villagers to assemble
 water filters

Sweet lady I met in the village