Saturday, July 4th. As I am writing this, many of you are taking in the festivities of the holiday. We are finished with ours and I am very tired. But I am determined to complete this entry before heading to bed. It may be shorter, and I know some of you will be glad for that.
We visited two orphan groups today. In the first group we noticed one of the girls sponsored by someone in our church was wearing the headband we gave her last Saturday. That was pretty cool. The first group, Heidi observed, was from a poorer part of town than the second group. I also met Gina, an orphan in that group. So we have a picture of Jeana and Gina. I am the one in the blue shirt :). I now know a Valerie and a Gina in the CAR.
The second group was the group that we visited last year and Beth Lehman led the craft where we wrote their names on papers and they decorated them with markers and glitter and such. They loved it. I asked them if they remembered and a good many of them raised their hands. This group has a lot of older boys in it, and I remember the impact it had on me last year. These boys showed so much respect and appreciation to ICDI for finding them sponsors and giving them a chance at life.It was impressed upon me how these older kids only have a few more years left to be in the program and the importance of sponsoring these older kids. They will be out on their own very soon and need first of all to know Christ, and then to have an education, a skill, good health and know how to care for themselves. All of these things they learn in this program. The boys, especially, in this culture, even more than the girls, will be the ones who can really change their country.
We saw Prudence today. Barb and I delivered a birthday backpack to her at her school 2 years ago for her sponsor. She is really growing up to be a beautiful young lady. 
Of course we gave the group a soccer ball. That created some excitement and some showing off of some fancy footwork by a couple of the boys. Then, before leaving, I asked how our church could be praying for this group. The 4 leaders each shared different requests with us:
Please join us in praying for group #7 that their caregivers, often extended families, would let them come to their group meetings. The caregivers would rather have them be out working and making money for the family. They want their own children to succeed, but want the orphans that live with them to work. They also asked for spiritual growth for these children as well as success in school and prayer for their teachers and good health. One group leader said that the devil is fighting against them so they need us to pray a lot for them. They closed by asking for prayer to give them the strength they need to care for these kids. This is a very large group too. I left, as I often do, with a very heavy burden. I must share this with all of you and encourage you to pray. That is one thing that these trips cause you to do as you never have before: PRAY.
We ended our day by getting all dressed up and going to the US Ambassador’s house. Fred and Denise Cook hosted any American citizen who wanted to attend along with many dignitaries and bigwigs in country at this time. It was quite an experience. Zac and I mingled a little as we went back to the beverage table for another African Cocktail (a mixture of several fruit juices). It was neat talking or trying to talk to different people. During the ceremony, an African choir from the university sang American Patriotic songs.
Then they introduced the President of the C.A.R. and the Prime Minister and sang their national anthem. Our Ambassador, Mr. Cook, invited all citizens of the United States to come up and join the choir in singing our national anthem. We happened to be in front and quickly noticed the TV news cameras were filming us. After that the Ambassador read a speech in three languages which was very long. A cake was brought out, a toast was made, then the President of the C.A.R. came around and shook our hands. Wow, none of us had ever had the privilege of shaking hands with any country’s president before, so it was quite an honor. Sorry we don’t have any pictures of our night there. We didn’t want to look like tourists.
I prayed for the 4th of July outreach and look forward to hearing all about it.
Good-night - Jeana
Please join us in praying for group #7 that their caregivers, often extended families, would let them come to their group meetings. The caregivers would rather have them be out working and making money for the family. They want their own children to succeed, but want the orphans that live with them to work. They also asked for spiritual growth for these children as well as success in school and prayer for their teachers and good health. One group leader said that the devil is fighting against them so they need us to pray a lot for them. They closed by asking for prayer to give them the strength they need to care for these kids. This is a very large group too. I left, as I often do, with a very heavy burden. I must share this with all of you and encourage you to pray. That is one thing that these trips cause you to do as you never have before: PRAY.We ended our day by getting all dressed up and going to the US Ambassador’s house. Fred and Denise Cook hosted any American citizen who wanted to attend along with many dignitaries and bigwigs in country at this time. It was quite an experience. Zac and I mingled a little as we went back to the beverage table for another African Cocktail (a mixture of several fruit juices). It was neat talking or trying to talk to different people. During the ceremony, an African choir from the university sang American Patriotic songs.
Then they introduced the President of the C.A.R. and the Prime Minister and sang their national anthem. Our Ambassador, Mr. Cook, invited all citizens of the United States to come up and join the choir in singing our national anthem. We happened to be in front and quickly noticed the TV news cameras were filming us. After that the Ambassador read a speech in three languages which was very long. A cake was brought out, a toast was made, then the President of the C.A.R. came around and shook our hands. Wow, none of us had ever had the privilege of shaking hands with any country’s president before, so it was quite an honor. Sorry we don’t have any pictures of our night there. We didn’t want to look like tourists.
I prayed for the 4th of July outreach and look forward to hearing all about it.
Good-night - Jeana
4 comments:
Jeana and the team. The Fireworks outreach was a tremendous success. We had many interactions with people in our community about who we are and the hope we have in Christ and we gave out hundreds of pops, water, and hotdogs. We missed you! So blessed to read your last entry. I've been there and saw the aimless walk of the young men who have nothing to do and wonder if they will rise up one day and say "enough is enough." The best way to avoid chaos is to bring them into the light of the Son. I must say I am proud of what we are doing as a church but there is so much more we can do. Let's press ahead!
Prayed for these needs today. Thank you for being a champion of the cause.
Be God's to TEOTE!,
JC
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us so we can feel like we are there with you! It's great to see how God is using each one of you! Our prayers continue to be with all 4 of you as you are the hands and feet of Jesus in Africa!
Blessings,
Cathy Simms
Good Evening everyone,Well,I know at this hour you are all sleeping or should be..Again,I enjoyed reading each days activities and seeing pictures of the groups of orphans..My hope is that the woodworking shop will be up and running soon to give these boys a trade as well as hope from the instructors who share Christ with them..I know it will take alot of work,but also know that NOTHING is impossible with God..Thanks so much again for taking the time to share with all of us back here,each of you are in my prayers as well as the work for Christ being done there by ICDI and others..Please tell everyone I said Balao...
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