Our Arrival

Greetings everyone,
Thank you all so much for your prayer coverage. Our travels could not have gone any smoother. All eighteen of our supply totes arrived safely along with our personal items. We spent time today unloading and organizing the medical and school supplies. Tommy is so grateful for everything you sent.

We had a wonderful experience on our way to the airport on Wednesday. Outside of Atlanta, we stopped for gas and lunch. Across the street from the Wendy's we ate at once a grocery store. Michelle Cutler went over to buy some M & M's for the children and at the check out there was only one lane open. When she got to the clerk, he noticed her Ghana team T-shirt. He is from Accra, Ghana and has been to the Village of Hope. How cool is our God. That gave us all a wonderful dose of encouragement at the beginning of our mission. Several of us went back to the store for a picture with Wisdom (his name). We have been asking God for wisdom so why shouldn't he show wisdom to us!!

We got to the Village of Hope around 9 p.m. last night. The power was off and came back on this early morning. It is intermittent at best so I'm not sure how many emails we will be able to get out. We will do our best. Continue to pray for rain. It is so badly needed.

Here is our schedule so far: Tomorrow we will begin work on the new concrete baptistery. The new church building will be built around it one day. That is a great cornerstone! We will also be painting one of the houses where children stay. It is the Traverse City house (built with funds from the Traverse City Church of Christ). Bob Chism, son of George from Traverse City and minister of the Prestoncrest Church of Christ) will be here next week to teach a seminar for the staff. We will be laying stone pavers around the school house and help move furniture and supplies into several new classrooms. The second level on the school house has been completed and they will begin work on the third story. Next Monday - Wed. will be our VBS at a village. We could have up to 500 people in attendance. We spent some time as a team after lunch putting our materials together for the craft projects. We have much to do and by God's grace we can get many projects accomplished. Tonight we have singing and tomorrow night we have a movie night with the children. I will get to preach this Sunday or the next here at the Village of Hope.

We got a tour today of the Village of Hope and it is amazing all that God is doing here. They will receive ten or more new children next week and they will be maxed out. The children are beautiful and full of life. You can see the love and confidence they have received by the staff. God is doing an amazing work here.

It has been great to be with Tommy and we continue to pray for him and his ministry here. He is so busy living for the King. I can picture the Rider family everywhere I go. We just shot some hoop with some of the boys across from the home where the Rider's stayed. I can almost see them in the front of their home in my thoughts. I do understand why they miss it here so much. Ma Victoria sends her love to you all Riders and Comfort sure does miss Camille. The children enjoyed the notes you sent to them and Reuben loves the chocolate chips. Danny and Bobbie Lynn, you were right about how good Reuben and Leticia can cook.

Bud, Cathy is staying hydrated and as cool as possible. Dorothy hasn't taken any hikes yet but we were taking bets to see if she could beat the metro train in Atlanta that took us to the correct terminal. Bill keeps us in stitches with his funny jokes. Zack and Ernst are enjoying basketball teamwork and Meredith is a natural with the children. April makes friends with everyone she meets and the Cutler's have many children to hold in their as they miss terribly Joseph and Danielle. Billie Jean is also doing wonderful and there is not a child far from her. The Tiller's have been such a blessing with their leadership and support. I am so thankful one of the elders is with us on our journey. The Sasser's and Dee have fit right in with our group and we are all working together wonderfully.

There is so much to tell but little time. Please know that we are doing great and we all know how important your prayers are.

We love you,
Mark and the team