Hello to all. My it is hard to believe that it has been so long since I have written. Many changes have taken place since last I wrote. Our director and wife were on furlough for several weeks. One missionary family has gone home and I have a new house mate. Christie arrived in October and it has been so nice to have companionship here. We are working together in the school and she is a great help.

Last week I passed my anniversary date and have been here now for over a year. It is hard to believe. We now have 38 children on the village ranging in age from two years to 11. That means in the year that I have been here we have more than doubled. There will be a second grade added to the school in January and we are hoping to add a number of day students from outside the village to our classes. This week I am rejoicing to be able to hire a new teacher. This will make two national teachers on our staff and two ladies working as teachers aids. My next challenge will be to schedule everyone's day so they will be best utilized.

With Christmas break will come the job of making sure all uniforms are repaired and still fitting and having new ones made where needed. The "to do" list never seems to get empty, although I must admit sometimes I lose it, accidentally- on purpose- no accidentally.

Most of the children are making great strides in reading and I am thrilled to see their progress and enthusiasm. If I could clone myself I'd sit and listen to children read all day. But one of the challenges of this work is remembering to take time to sit and listen to someone far more important. So often the challenges of our work pull us away from the One who gave it to us.

Yes, He has called us to work, to "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it." (Gen. 1:28) In the process of doing all that He has called us to do we must not forget the One who called us, the One in who's image we are created. And so as I contemplate my Creator I send you a few images of the creation.

In that moment - when a new life begins we stand amazed at the beauty and perfection of that new creation from tiny toes to turned up nose. And we wonder what will this child be, God has a plan and we shall see.

In that moment - when breakers crash upon the seashore, God's mighty power is revealed and we stand amazed, and wonder, "HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!"

In that moment - when the sunlight breaks through the clouds, the glory of God's creation is revealed and all of us stand amazed, wondering and waiting - waiting for that day when the Sonlight will break through the clouds in all His splendor and glory and we shall meet Him in the air. As we celebrate His first coming let us look again to the heavens anticipating His second coming. Seasons Greetings to All

Where there is a lizard there's gotta be a tail somewhere. That's what I thought when I opened the door of the school library and saw a tailless lizard run across the floor. Sure enough right there on the floor of the library was a lone tail, wiggling with all its might. How appropriate to find a tail in a room full of tales. Every since then I've been wondering about what tale to tell YOU next. Dare I tell you that sometimes I feel like that tail, severed from all that is familiar and yet still alive and struggling to find my place and do my part? That lizard will run off and grow a new tail, but what of this tail. Fortunately my life is not dependent upon a lizard, and where ever I go, I am no farther from MY life source than I was the day before. The Lord has promised, I will never leave you nor forsake you.(Hebrews 13:5) What a privilege to live for such a Master!

Today I missed my first wedding in the family. My nephew, Jared, is celebrating with family and friends as he and his Darcy exchange vows and pledge their lives to each other. Everyone will be there. Except the family nut who went to Africa. I smile to think of how beautiful it will all be and of all of the fun and laughter. I hope you have great weather!! So as I think of all my loved ones gathered together in one place, I must reflect on the reason that I am not there.

Yesterday at recess as I pinned Abraham's uniform shorts- again- at the waist - he is so skinny they keep falling down, and someone else waited with their jump rope, I knew progress was being made here. "Teacha, I jum, you coun." "One, two, three, four." Two months ago these children had never jumped a rope, held a pencil, swung a baseball bat, read a book, flushed a toilet. Well, you get the picture. They thrill with each new letter of the alphabet that comes to them with its funny story and silly song. Often I still can't understand their "English" and I know they don't always understand me but we are all learning and one of the greatest thrills is to see children 8, 9, 10 even 11, beginning to learn to read. Reading will change their lives. Not ALL of them have parents who can. What can you do if you can read? What if you can't?!

When these children can read and read well, which they will (by God's grace), they will have access to the word of God in a way that many in their world do not have. It will open doors for them that many of us take for granted. What a privilege to be a small part of that.

On the Village we now have 30 orphans. The numbers continue to grow and it appears there are more coming soon. With our 14 day students the school is now at 41. I am teaching 2 hours of preschool, 2 hours of 1st grade, and the afternoon in kindergarten. It keeps life interesting.

Our most recent additions to the village are Blessing, 4, Adam, 5, and his cousin Gabriel, 3. They are in my preschool class and it is a joy to watch them get stronger, healthier and happier. Personalities begin to appear in little bodies that previously were just in survival mode. This can be great fun and sometimes challenging. But mostly it's just fun to watch.

And so when I look in the mirror at the nut who went to Africa, I can at least be thankful that God is using it for His purposes. By His grace, eternity with all of those I love will make up for what I am missing today. For the potter has the right over the clay to make from it what He chooses and to send it where He wills. (Romans 9:21ff)

Please keep this little Village in your prayers for physical safety, for spiritual growth and for wisdom to do this work. "Just as it is written, 'Behold I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.'"

I hear that Spring is bringing new life to your world. Here in Liberia things seem to stay pretty much the same weather wise. It is Summer and with it comes fun in the sun, but don't stay out in it too long or you'll cook. Another month has slipped by and we have seen many changes. We have new little people and new big people as well.
We welcomed new staff last week with the arrival of the Patty family. They will be here for the next year working in our school and where ever needed. We are excited to have them join us and look forward to the helping hands. Then this week we added two new little girls, Jan Jay (6)and Makatee (3) arrived Tuesday. These sisters are learning quickly that Rafiki is a safe and fun place to be, inspite of a suspected case of the mumps. We wouldn't want to miss any of the fun all of those other kids are having!
The Village is just finishing a 2 week break from school that has been filled with extra fun activities and beach walks for the children and lots of sewing (26 children go through a lot of clothing) and maintainance repairs for the benefit of us old folks. One of my greatest joys in all of this has been the addition of a small generator to run the ceiling fans in the school. That means air flow all day! Trust me it is a wonderful blessing. Thanks to Susan and Bob Hegel for their wonderful help and expertice in accomplishing all these things. The Hegel's spent 10 days with us solving problems and making life a bit easier here. They travel from village to village serving, solving and sometimes just listening to our struggles. These messengers (angels) of encouragement earned a special place in our hearts. Thanks for your ministry and thanks for the memories.
We are still waiting for God to send the right national teachers to us. So please continue to keep that in your prayers. Please also pray for the new little ones who have just arrived. There are more coming soon for sure so keep them in your prayers as well. Please pray that God will protect them, guard their hearts and bring them to us. Please pray that He will send us the mothers that He has chosen to help us raise these little ones. And please pray that He will give us the wisdom and grace to do His work for His glory here in Liberia. While we struggle with the details of each day let us all be mindful "that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans chapter 8 is an anchor for my soul. Take a few minutes and read it. It will meet you right where you are.
May God bless your heart through His word.

Marching on!

March is here and my bi-weekly blog seems to be doing well to be monthly. But never-the -less it is time for an update and so here we go. February was a very busy month with school going full speed ahead and the additional activities of having our "home office" folks here to see how we are doing and what we need. Our president met with "the" president of Liberia and a number
of church officials. We were encouraged to find out that they plan to send another family here to help us the end of the month MARCH! Hurrah! And they are working to get my house mate, Erica here soon also. This is great news!!
Even though we are still working in the school short handed, we will begin to add day students from outside the village to our classrooms this week. These are children of our employees. They are excited to be able to be a part of a Rafiki classroom. School outside the village is very limited and expensive. These children range in age from 5 to 8, but will all be starting at pre-k or kindergarten level. We hope to be able to boost some of the older ones up after some time in our school. Please pray for us as we make this transition. It will actually add 15 new faces to our classrooms boosting our school size from 22 to37. Big change! Also please pray for the hearts of these children and we share the wonders of God's amazing creation with them and they learn about Him.
We now have all of our children in school except the two babies, Nehemiah and Timothy, who are growing and changing just like typical 2 year olds.
Our next step in growth is to add more children. Please pray that God will send the ones He has chosen to be here. Also pray that He go before us in providing good mothers to add to our team.
More children means more mothers and they must be trained and prepared for the challenge of raising these little ones.
As I look at my life here in Liberia, I often find myself waking up in prayer, not knowing how to meet the challenges of the day. But the amazing thing is I don't have to meet them alone.
For God is faithful, it is His work and in His hands I move and breath and live. And so I lay it on the altar each morning, knowing that I am NOT enough and that doesn't matter because He IS.
God bless you for your prayers and your service to Him.
Julie

Hi everyone,
February has arrived here and it is hotter and dryer still. There is a nice breeze blowing in my
study window this afternoon though and that is a great help. I'm sure you are all wondering about the latest news at the Village here. We are very busy and the days fly by so quickly.
School is in full swing and we are ready to start our fifth week. We are still short on teachers but are blessed to have added one national teacher to help out. I am teaching kindergarten and first grade. Please keep praying for more reinforcements!
What's new in the village since the last time I wrote? Well, we have three new children and that is always exciting news. Mid-January we added little Austin, 3 1/2. Then last week two little brothers arrived, Esau is 6 and his little brother, Isaac, is three. They all came to us from the bush, but were brought to "town" after losing their care givers, parents and in Esau and Isaac's case grandmother as well. In rescuing these little guys we saw some very sad living conditions. The new boys have been busy discovering a whole new world around them. Imagine being transported through time from, oh, perhaps the 16th century to modern day. What would you experience? Probably many of the wonders that Austin, Esau and Isaac are discovering. Concrete floors instead of dirt, a bed to call your own, indoor plumbing! Those toilets make really scary sounds when you pull on that silver thing. "Silver thing"! That's another thing they are learning for the first time, colors, numbers, letters. It is all new!
A fork, a fork what to do with a fork. Isaac's first meal here he figured out you are supposed to hold it in your hand when you eat,?? with the other hand? Hmm how DOES this work?
But there is great news. God has made us with an incredible capacity to learn and to do it at amazing rates. (Atleast when we're three.) And so table manners, alphabet, colors and shapes are being absorbed at a surprising rate as we see progress almost daily. While their minds are being bombarded with new growth their little bodies are absorbing nutrients at a rate that has not been allowed before, at least not since they lost their parents. They are being given needed medical care to recover from bush maladies such as malaria and malnutrition.
And so as we watch these little bodies get healthy and their minds grow, we will begin to discover who these new short people are-really. And as we do we will be ever mindful of the great responsibility God has given us to nurture not only their minds and bodies but the most important of all, their souls. Please pray with me that Austin, Esau and Isaac will learn the joy of serving a wonderful Savior and have the freedom and peace that come in trusting solely in the hand of a Mighty God, the giver of life, the sustainer of worlds and the lover of our souls. This is why we are here, to rescue the perishing. It may start physical but it ends eternal!

January, Sunny and Warm

January here is, yes, sunny and warm. We are in our dry season and things aren't as green as they were when I arrived in November. While you are all drinking hot chocolate and snuggling under your comforters, we are drinking lots of fluids and sleeveless.

The beginning of the new year brought us into a new school year. Last Monday all of our children moved up a grade and we began again, just as you did in the fall. Each new year we add a new grade as our children grow into it. And so we now have a first grade for the first time.
Our preschoolers are kindergarteners and some of our newest arrivals have joined our preschool. While we have added a class we have not as yet been able to add to our teaching staff.
With the limitations of education in Liberia there is a great shortage of qualified teachers.
We are waiting and praying for God to send the right teachers to us to be a godly influence on our children. Please pray with me for His guidance in this.

To update you on our new children, I know you all want to know how our tiny Tim, little Grace and Theresa are doing. Well, Grace and Theresa started school last week and are very excited
and eager to learn. They have both concluded that Rafiki is a safe and happy place to live and are flourishing in their new found security.
In little Timothy, we have seen the greatest transformation. He is now walking on his own. Well, actually running. He loves to dance and what a joy to hear his laughter. No longer sad and weak, he plays with toys and interacts with his brothers, who enjoy having a toddler in the house. Watching these little ones change and grow brings joy to our hearts as we experience the privilege of being a part of God's plan for their lives. Please pray for our little ones. We have 21 now. Pray that God keep them tender toward Him, that He heal their hearts as well as their bodies. That He use them for His glory in this, their nation and where ever on earth He sends them.

Dear friends,

Well, it seems hard to believe that it has been nearly a month since the last time I wrote here.
Hopefully you have all received my latest newsletter update since then. I will try to catch you up on the happenings of the village over the passed few weeks.

Christmas brought new experiences for all of us. Many of our children had never experienced a real Christmas until this year. One of the exciting things we were able to do was to prepare a Christmas program and take it out into the community and share it with the local people. I have posted a few pictures to give you the flavor of the event. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend due to one of MY new experiences. I caught a nasty bug and was confined to my home for a few days. I was disappointed to miss the activities but loved hearing all about it. Over all getting out into the community to give them this gift has been very good. When we go walking outside our village now there are little children everywhere waving and calling out to us. They are no longer afraid of the "whi pepo".

What is it like to be six years old and to never have had your own Christmas present? I really do not know, but let me tell you about our Patience. What a treat it was for her to have dining room duty the night our director and his wife brought the Christmas presents in to place under the tree. Each child was to receive three small gifts. Patience peeked around the tree curious to see if her name might actually be on one of those presents. Dave teased a bit about her being left out, but to her delight she discovered that there was something there for her. As "Mr. and Mrs. Santa" left the dining hall, they peeked back in to get the full effect. Patience, was literally dancing her broom around the tables. I can't help but think of the classic Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella,dancing with her broom. Patience life very much parallels that story as she, too, was rescued from a life where she was expected to serve others and receive less than adaquate care herself. We call her our little Cinderella.
And so there was joy in sharing Christmas here in Liberia, the joy of giving and the joy of receiving. We watched our children learn of both and in the process we learned anew.