Six happy girls with their small gifts at one of the four orphanages we visited on Tuesday
Dear Friends, On Monday morning I spent time meeting with one of three primary ministers who will be responsible for distributing tons of rice for us in Chin State to help believers there who are suffering from the rat induced famine. Then our team of nine headed back to the airport for two domestic flights that brought us to a town that we’re leaving unnamed in this blog. Orphan’s Tear serves twenty Christian orphanages in this region, and we intend to spend time at all of them over the next six days. Upon our arrival at the airport, we were met by about thirty of our friends whom I see once a year. They escorted us to our hotel, which is a definite step down from the one we stayed at in Yangon. There is no electrical power most of the day and night, and showers are generally cold—unless you take them late in the afternoon when the water tank on the roof has reached its peak temperature. After our arrival we had time to visit one orphanage, which is the very first orphanage that was supported through our Orphan’s Tear division about five years ago. I would have never dreamed then that the number of orphanages we would assist each month would grow from one to close to fifty today. At dinner time we headed to a wonderful Chinese restaurant owned and operated by a woman whom we have grown to appreciate over the years. All nine our team had a wonderful meal for a total of eighteen dollars! Today (Tuesday), we headed out in the morning to visit the first of the day’s four orphanages. At each one the children sang songs for us, after which some of our team played games with them and gave them small gifts that we brought. A few of us met with the orphanage directors to talk “business.” There are always needs. Some of our team members had the privilege to meet with a very special national missionary who is sponsored through our National Missionaries Support Program. He is working in such a remote area in Chin State that to meet with us he had to trek for two and a half days on mountain footpaths, and then journey two-and-a-half more days riding in a truck and on a train. It was a joy-filled day for everyone. I’ve added a few other photos below of some special moments. Thanks so much for your prayers. — David Servant Team member David Growden and a new friend Team member John Cary getting high with a little help from his friends A big smile because of two tiny toys I’m so glad that someone is interested in what I have to say! — David |