wonderful partners

The word partner is a big buzz word but we have TRUE partners here, without whom we could NOT do what we are doing. If you could see the transformation in our building since September 24th when our first short-term team arrived, it is truly a miracle. What a God-send these dear people have been. Let me try to list just a few of the tasks they have accomplished: built 4 sets of bunk beds for our guest rooms, installed an awesome music system throughout the entire ground floor, hours of puttying & fixing water-damaged walls & painting every room with beautiful bright colors, dozens of missing pieces of marble replaced, scraping windows and floors covered with old paint, more drilling, hammering, welding, and things too numerous to mention. What a huge sacrifice of love as they spent their vacation time & money and hard hard work to bless us in this way. At times I've been kept awake at night (a very rare occurrence for me)worrying about how we're going to pull this whole thing off. I can honestly say that the panicky feelings are dissipating as I see the work getting done! I will post a few photos so you can see the progress. By next month we'll have furniture and then it will really be a transformation! One is of the cafe, another of one of the preschool rooms (blue) and one of the outside of the building with our sign.

progress

Little by little, things are getting done and it is so rewarding to see the progress. Here is a picture of the kitchen before and after.

An Incredible Week!

A team of 6 strong, hard-working men showed up from New Jersey for a solid week of work at the Family Place. The transformation that took place in one week was truly amazing. We were so blessed to have this wonderful group of guys help us in this way. They worked long, hot hours and were always joyful and full of fun. On their last day, our signs arrived and they were able to help put them up. The building is really starting to take shape and I don't have such a hopeless feeling anymore. There's plenty of work still to do for the next two teams that will arrive on the 10th and 18th of this month. Now I just worry about the people that will help us staff all the different facets of the business; cafe, preschool, fitness center, ESL teachers. I know God will provide in his perfect time and every time I start to panic, I am reminded of what a miracle it is that we have come this far in just a few months. God will continue to complete what he has started. I can't wait to see what he's gonna do! Here are some photos of the last week's team.