06.17.08
Steam Rolling
While the men were building, Jim and Patty Crandall, with Marcio translating, visited the neighborhood around our new site and found a desire for a church. Mark set up a hit and run VBS where Joan and Paige taught and 8 kids and adults accepted Christ. This location is right around the corner from the new Lar and we are excited to see what God plans. Could it be the Lord plants a new church with every orphanage? Mark has already met with the pastor of Igreja Batista Alvorado of Eusebio who has agreed to come alongside this work-the orphanage and a church plant. It is so fun to see God working in the beginning of a project, and He is steam rolling!
While at the Davis Lar church site, the ladies were at the home site discipling our kids. Joan prepared the lessons. She knows our kids have a base of knowledge, so she truly comes to disciple. I say she has left the milk and offers hamburger. We’ll get to filet mignon later!! Last year 11 children learned all 5 verses to win the end of the week prize. This year we had 13. And the crafts were phenomenal. The children love the unique crafts that those Americans bring in. The best, I thought, was the sand art. Joyce and company kept visiting the Cracker Barrel picking up their discarded mini syrup bottles- to the tune of 80+. All they had to do was buy the colored sand and voila!
Many of you know we have had a hard time with our teen boys at the Lar. Things are turning! Josenildo didn’t think it was uncool to learn the verses! Be proud of that boy.
We have started conversing with our first foster care family and are preparing all the documents and interviews in order to transfer Geovania to their home. How exciting! While some children cannot make that move into a family, many can and should. They deserve the one on one attention only a family can provide. Pray as we move forward with the Davis Lar foster care program. We have a second family interested in fostering. By word of mouth within the churches may more families come forward.
Dalmo, using his own funds, has joined a capoeira group. Isn’t he cute in his uniform. Oh my, actually handsome, or as he would say, “gatao.”
As usual pray for more qualified house moms! We are shaking things up and need people to step forward while others step out. Pray for Mark’s wisdom as he works with the administration.
The boys move into the TRANSITION home Saturday. (Had to change the name after many Americans noted that half-way homes in the states are usually for ex-drug addicts.) Pray for the boys as they are all begging to stay with Mark and I. Yet through experience, we realize we need to move them on and start breaking the ties. This is the SECOND step to being able to stand on their own two feet. Hurts me too!!
Pray for Nilnara as she transitions out of our home and into the world. Pray for her attitude and her walk with Christ.
Pray for the Andersons! Our REALLY busy season is coming up with teams coming in fast and furious. We have been bombarded with many issues at the Lar-emotional situations that suck our energy dry. Pray for our walk, our wisdom, and our patience.
Pray for the Withrows. They did a great job working with the Georgia team and we are thrilled they will be here to help us.
Thanks for being on our Davis Lar team! Paige
06.10.08
Big Wheels Keep on Turning!
Samara had her 15 year birthday-a HUGE deal in Brazil. We have four of our five teens with jobs. They still live with us! We have another American missionary couple, the Withrow’s, working with the Davis Lar. They both contracted dengue fever. We’ve been here 8 years and havent had the privilege.:) We have purchased a half way house with miraculous donations and plan on moving children in next week. Marcos, who moved home, knew where to run when things got tough. He is back at the lar regrouping. Robinho, our cerebrral palsey child, has been admitted into a treatment program and received a new walker. The Well from Texas came and renovated/cleaned up the new half-way house, adding a new roof and painting. A piece of land has been donated by Eusebio for another orphanage “at the same level” as the Davis Lar and construction has started. A team is here from Georgia building the first structure. Penha’s daughter came down with Hepatitis A while living with us. Our truck is on its last legs and we need to pray for God’s provision. Our support has been boosted by some timely doantions and we are incredibly awed. We have changed the house mom schedule to one week on and on week off with each house having a house mom tag team which gives them more down time. Our teen boys’ house on site needs tons of prayer. Pastor Marcos has been incredibly involved in the Lar and is a wonderful leader and pastor. We have hired a full time psychologist. Mark has won a grant from Petrobras for our foster family program and is actively searching for families through local churches. Wade has built wooden boxes which will be placed around the city collecting receipts which the government collects giving .5% back to the orphanage. Michelle is a painting fanatic. Carliane and Ila’s mom died and Mark and Paige took them to the funeral. Mark is preaching and teaching at First Baptist Church of Aracas. Paige is working toward her behavioral science degree, getting close, and needs prayer to have time to finish. Matt is going to swim a month in Florida then a month in Sao Paulo this summer. He will be a junior. Rachel is into theater, karate, ministry in the favelas and enjoying new friends. She will be a sophomore. Mark works and works and works everywhere and all the time. We have teams coming in all summer. Mark presented the Davis Lar and Foster Program at the local Baptist’s Convention on social works and the church. Paige had the kids sing and play bells………….
And may that bring you up to date! I plan on blogging and keeping you up to date on the happenings at the Davis Lar Orphanage and its affiliates, but I needed a foundation for starting. So here it is! Please keep us in your prayers as we follow our Lord in taking care of the abused and bandoned children in Ceara.
Join us at the lar in prayer for Lindsey Sowles, a three time visitor and friend of the Lar. Her entire family has been with us with her mom leading many trips and her sister staying for months. Lindsey has cancer. Aurilene, praying for her diligently, reminded me of the time Lindsey was on the bus with a ton of kids returning from Beach Park. Aurilene was shivering, so Lindsey took off her towel and wrapped Aurilene. Interesting what we see as a little kindness, my kids remember forever. We are praying for a miraculous healing!
