Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

WEDNESDAY - This was our first day too meet up with the LIA staff and be introduced to their vision, mission, and goals. Dr. Yared who is the executive director of LIA led us with this hour meeting. From there we left for the church partner known as "Presbyterian" to see the programs they have been able to start because of their partnership with LIA. The compound has a school for grades K-6 currently and they hope to expand to higher grades in the coming years when the government approves development on their property. From here we went on two home visits and met a boy who's parents had passed away and was adopted by a woman within the church. The second visit was more touching than any of us could have ever prepared for. The woman in this home had attended a drama during the Easter program at the church and was encouraged to come forward. She fell to her knees and said, "I have heard about Jesus, but I will believe if you (God) will heal the paralysis in my arm." Immediately she was healed and trusted in the Lord. Her husband is a Muslim and protested her to the point of stoning and attempting to kill her. Her story touched all of our hearts!

THURSDAY - We began our day at the LIA office where we were able to join in their prayer and worship session that they begin with every day! Somehow hearing God being glorified in another language is an incredible reminder about how truly great He is. I was asked to share a word of encouragement with them as a devotional thought, but it seemed backwards because their example of loving God and loving others was moving to us. We all agreed we could learn more from them than we could offer to them. We left for another site visit, this time to the church called "Antioch". Again we met the pastor and LIA rep at the school and church here. After hearing their outreach opportunities there, we prayed for them and then went across the street to see a run down shanty that we could help rebuild in the afternoon. The man living here was a beneficiary of the church in that he received meals every month to help sustain life. He is a very elderly man and to add to his condition, he is also blind. Upon our return we were able to spend the equivalent of $70 to buy him a nice mattress to sleep on, blankets, and plastic covering to wrap around the structure (we could not buy metals and other building material without government permission). As some constructed, we had drawn a crowd of childern which all stole our hearts. We learned some of their games and took many many pictures, and even had some opportunity to share the love of Christ-Emily has a great story about this!

FRIDAY - Today! Yea we started with a new location known as "Marcato." The spelling is wrong but very phonetical. lol Here God had incredible timing. Our visit landed on the quarterly handout day where the community received soap, school supplies, and other items as needed. The compound is small but incredibly packed! Half of our team shared with the "hardcore" young men who are being targeted by LIA to get them out of the street life of stealing and drugs. The other half addressed the mass of others in the outer part of the compound. Brent shared his story with the "hardcore" group and was very impacting to their life. And because of the majority of children in the outer part, Steve's children ministry experience excelled greatly here. We then went on many home visits to both "hardcore" men and those who are targeted in the "poverty stricken" area. Their testimonies of God's work in their lives blew all of us away. God is so great to work within these men and change their hearts for Him. We were able to pray for them as an encouragement.

Alot to absorb, but our internet connection just started to work where we are staying. More posts to come and hopefully more frequently as well!

Families your sons and daughters and husband (Kelsie) all say hello and we love you and miss you greatly! Mom, Dad and Hannah I am doing well and can't wait to share pictures and stories with you! Sammi I Love you and can't wait to see you again!