This morning, after getting organized, Hunter and I met with Suzy in her office (the erstwhile Director's cottage) to discuss a potential microbusiness. John McKinnon had discovered a non-profit, FilterPure, that has created a portable ceramic water filter. They partner with other non-profits to build factories to manufacture and distribute the water filters. The idea is that we would build a factory with their help (expertise, some key materials, marketing help, etc.) and manufacture the water filters for about $20 each and then sell them for $30 each. Primary markets would be other NGOs and mission groups who want to provide clean drinking water. This would be a way to help LAMB become more self-sufficient financially as well as provide a source of clean water to Latin America. Please pray for guidance as Suzy and the LAMB leadership team discuss this possibility.
While we were meeting with Suzy, she told us that last night they got 2 more children, unexpectedly. They are Mirza's brothers, 2 and 6 years old. Their mother simply couldn't care for them any longer. There is a 3rd child in the hospital with pneumonia who will join the others at SBV as soon as he is well enough. Suzy is still waiting for news about the 15 mo old twins found abandoned in a pig sty. She isn't sure whether they will be able to go right into the Children's Home yet. If not, they will join the others at Suzy's house. She is also waiting for more information about the boy (2 years old?) who was mauled by a dog. She isn't sure whether he will be ready for SBV either. She was told that she will be able to pick up the newborn tomorrow (we hope) who will definitely go to Suzy's house. So, have you done the math yet? In just a matter of a couple weeks, the population at SBV and Suzy's house will increase by 7 children, most are under the age of 2. In the case of the twins and the boy mauled by the dog, Suzy read about them in the newspaper and she called Social Services to see how LAMB could help. God has been very good to His littlest lambs by putting Suzy here.
We took a break in the afternoon to visit the farm. The corn is as high as an elephant's eye and stretches as far as you can see! On the way, we met up with some goats. Meagan and Bonnie were particularly taken by the goats, but in slightly different ways. Meagan has established a relationship with one (sorry Billy, you've been replaced) and Bonnie... well, Bonnie, fresh from Heifer U., was seen fleeing from one of the goats. In respect for her dignity I will refrain from mentioning that the goat was tethered as she sprinted away!
Suzy came by tonight with Sallie, Elsa, and Lucy to have dinner and evening devotions. She played the guitar as we sang as best we could. We really miss the voices from the choir and from Camp Mikell! We sounded pretty pitiful singing "Humble thyself." I busted out the new video camera we brought down for LAMB and recorded the evening. We'll see. If it works out, I will post on the LAMB website.
Tomorrow we go to Flor del Campo to see El Cordero and the children's assembly. Then we will meet with several ladies from La Cantera. We can't go into La Cantera because it is too dangerous right now. Even Fr. Julio is meeting with them in Flor. (I forgot to mention that Fr. Julio arrived yesterday to spend the week doing pastoral care with the ladies of La Cantera.) After that we go to Giancarlo's for pewter and then back to SBV and scraping.
Some other tidbits...
Ana Karina's foot is all healed! There was a point we were very worried it was getting seriously infected.
Betsy - I stepped into the 6th grade classroom only to see the three older girls knitting!!!
Wheeler came home with a brand new pair of crutches for the man we see on the road. We hope to stop tomorrow to give them to him. Our plan (please pray about this for us) is to have Hunter teach him how to use the crutches. We figure that once Hunter shows him his leg, the man will understand that we want to help him by giving him the crutches.
I held Fany again this afternoon and today, to my great joy, she laughed!!! Fany has a very sad story and, at not quite 2, is a very melancholy baby. To see her smile and laugh stirs the soul in a particular way.
Jorge has started carpentry school and is very excited. He is living with his family and comes to SBV for school on Saturdays. I am very anxious to see him again. His surgery was stalled due to the political crisis but Evelyn has started working on it again. There is a doctor here who has all his test results and medical records. Pray for that too, please.
As usual, I am the last one up. We all crash early here. Buenos Nochas.
