Friday, June 6, 2008

We Found Them!!!





Well, we were out at the camps and still no kids. Finally, I found Maria, who was there last year. She is an older woman whose husband is one of the crew leaders. She told me that Fatima said I was out there looking for them. The two families with children just arrived and were not in the camp, but at a trailer park. Maria was telling me where it was and I knew the exact one. So we left there and went to the trailer park. Thankfully, Giovani was there. He is the young boy who spoke NOOOO English when he came and was at Mt. Zion Elementary. I was volunteering as a tutor helping students who just arrived to learn English while they were in classes. Giovani really touched my heart. He has a difficult situation which I will go into more detail in the "Special Prayer Requests for Friends" link. It will be titled "First Night".

Anyway, so when Jack and I went out there we had no idea where to look for the families Maria told us would be there. When I saw Giovani I was so glad. Not just because he could help us but also just to see him again. He is now 13 and looks the same just taller. He is even still skinny! So he lead us on his bicycle while we drove the van. We knew we were in the right place when off in the distance we saw 4 little kids jumping up and down and clapping! We took these pictures and one is a bit blurry because I had to make them quit moving around : )! We are finding them. Thanks to Maria at Jenkins and some information from Dave tonight, who works with Jimmy Shaffer, and there are about 100 here. There will be more than 500 but most will be single guys. But thankfully one little girl did return. She has been a concern of mine. I'll share more in the other where it is more confidential. The rest of her family did not return but she came back and I'm so thankful I will have more time with her. They wanted to do the lesson tonight but we will be waiting until Monday night. I can't wait. Pray for us! Thanks friends.
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THE STORY "How It All Began"

 *Photobucket *                                         * Photobucket*  Here is the story of how it first started. This was written a few years ago for a mission fair at JIPC. Since it was already written there really is no reason to re-do it : ). Jack was not in the picture then so he is not included in this story, but his entrance onto the scene is a story for another time : ). The following is the text from years ago:


In the summer of 1987, I went out with Stono Baptist Church to Jenkin’s camp. There were a guy and girl taking out groups from the Charleston Baptist Association. Immediately, my heart jumped inside when I saw the little children and their excitement to learn. By the end of the time, I saw that not much was made of the wide door of opportunity and was sad. But my prayer then was that I would be able to teach children like that one summer. Little did I know what God already had planned. The next year I was a sophomore at Columbia Bible College, one of my friends was Angela Thomas from Charleston. We were just about out for the summer, in the midst of exams and all the end of the year craziness, when Ange asked me if I’d be interested in teaching out at Migrant camps on John’s Island. Her mom had been asked by Reverend Richard McQueen if Ange would be interested, and since she was unavailable and knew that I lived on John’s Island asked if I might be willing. It seems the person scheduled had bailed last minute and they were trying to find someone. But I know better!
Writing this now April 27, 2005, I can still remember being on Petty Hall like it was yesterday. I was not only willing – it was an answer to a prayer I’d forgotten that I prayed! So with little time to prepare and not knowing exactly what I was getting into, I began what would become the most fulfilling, difficult, heartbreaking, rewarding, joyful, sorrowful, love-filled, exciting summer days and nights : ) of my life. God so perfectly put it all together. It started with CBA, then my local church, Samaritan’s Purse after Hugo when I met Franklin Graham and eventually led to meeting Mr. Henry Meeuwse at James Island Presbyterian Foundation. Teaching children the powerful, life-changing Word of God gives me some of the greatest joy in my life. I also love the food, culture and language : ). The children and their families have become a very rich part of my life. I’m so thankful the other person was unable to go out that summer. I’m sure in God’s sovereignty He had something well suited to him for that summer, also. God’s love and control are boundless; I’m thankful He has given me the blessing of summers with so many wonderful people.

~ So there it is. That is how it began in 1987 as a seed, and then in 1988 as a dream fulfilled.