July 21, 2007

   Howdy! Thank you so much for your prayers. Things are going well here in Kosovo.  It has been extremely hot here! Our temperatures have been well over 100!  I have sweated in places I did not know I could sweat!  We have just had a mission team from the UK who worked with us to do a children's camp for the widow's children. We had a great time and the children loved it. We rented a bus and took them to a place about 20 minutes from Gjakova. We had a blast!

   Naturally I missed working with the gypsy children which continue to be one of the favorite things I do here. My heart is naturally drawn to them and as Taylor Field would say "it makes my heart sing" to work with the children in the gypsy colonies. We have been in one colony for 13 weeks and what a difference in those children. They all run out to greet us every week as a matter of fact, the children sometimes will surround the truck and we can't move. I have to get out of the truck so the children will move with me away from the truck. I usually have about 70 children pulling on me and trying to hug me. They are all screaming my name at the same time. My wonderful friends in the truck just watch and laugh!!!

We have started two sessions in the colony here in Gjakova, so we work with 75 -100 children every week. Some of the children who have been with me the longest are now helping us out in the second session. They have changed so much over the past 13 weeks. I am so excited in the change in them, yet at the same time I am in tears at times. There are 11 and 12 year olds that can't even write their names. There is one little boy who is always sick and has constant drainage from his nose. Today I wiped it several times and tried to teach him how to blow. When we got it semi-cleaned, he cried and gave me a big hug. No one had ever wiped his nose before!

What does it take to do these small things for the children? God's love!  I know Christ would be doing the same thing if he were walking around on this earth. It does not matter to him when the last time the children had a bath or if they have lice running around all over them or if they have liquid oozing out of their eyes and nose or whatever the case may be. I want the children to see Christ's unconditional love through me. I want them to feel His arms around them as I hug and kiss each child. The children crave to be loved! I have that honor and privilege to love these children. I am the one who receives a blessing when the children hug and kiss me: snot nose and lice running around and all. They are God's precious children and He says to let them come to Him! God is so good! I praise Him for allowing me to be with these children.

THANKS: For all the emails, even when I do not respond quickly. For all the prayers. Please continue to lift us up in Prayer!

By the way, who is not praying for the NY Yankees? They are not doing well right now! I am having Yankee withdrawals and it is not a pretty sight. Thank you Sharom and Chris for recording some of the games for me.

PRAY:

The gypsy colony outreaches
God's wisdom and guidance to know what to do
The Kids Klub for the next 6 weeks as we study the book of Esther
What can we do to best meet the needs of the children in the colonies
The little girl who is so sick in one of the colonies
ME as I strive to serve the Lord and to be His faithful servant

I tried to attach pictures, but it would not work. I am having difficulties with my internet connection. I hope to send pictures later!

Thank you so much for all your prayer support. Please continue to lift us up in your prayers! Keep the emails coming.

 In His Service,
 MARY