Update

We are in the middle of the biggest group year of the mission's history.  Social media sharing covers a lot of what they have been helping the mission do, but I thought maybe I could share some more things here, not exactly behind the scenes, but just to perhaps convey just a little of what a whirlwind we are collectively in right now.  

Starting off with the big tree falling and hitting the mission house in Sampedrana, damaging the roof, hand rail, etc.  Several people jumped together, materials purchased, and fixed before too much rain did too much more damage.  

I don't have good pictures to show, but just a few days ago, we were informed just how many problems there are with TV station and pastor's house building in Talanga.  Again...pitching in, helping out, materials purchased for phase one of fixing it, but this will take a while, and won't be something we can really help do with teams.  And, in Las Botijas the road work to get to the top of the farm will have to wait until dry season, and until we can secure many thousands in funding to make that happen.  So...we also wait for a break in the seemingly record rain, to dry out just enough, for the well digging equipment (not the big normal equipment...lighter and "easier" to get up there equipment) to make the trek and start.  We had to put the deposit down...now we wait for the weather to cooperate.  

And...we have several other minor issues with the new office building to work out in regards to rain as well, not in the building itself, but the garage area and upper patio area.  

And...our solar woes continue in the clinic.  The system apparently wasn't designed with growth in mind, and we are now having to do some changes to hopefully at least keep it going.  Very frustrating, but hopefully that will be "fixed" by this week.

Seen above, somewhat related is trained staff taking apart dental sterilization equipment to find the burnt out fuse from some of the brown outs caused by the system faults.   We have UPS backups on key systems, but they are definitely getting taxed while we learn and make more changes to prevent future such problems.  

Groups have been helping a ton in Las Botijas, moving about 4,000 new variety coffee plants.  Shame though we can't get to the farm in Sampedrana to help them do the same.  

We are also hoping, when there isn't rain...to get more progress done on the fence there in Las Botijas, where the concrete block needs stucco work to be stable long term.  

The lovely adoquines order we placed to arrive for groups to help with this summer...is on hold.  It takes months after ordering to get them, but apparently our order got bumped, and so we can't make any more progress there in Las Botijas or Cantarranas.  We will hopefully be able to order more later this fall to put in Sampedrana next year...but so far no teams in the dry season that can help with that.  We shall see.

Otherwise, we are hoping to get further on finishing the wall in Cantarranas with teams in July, and start the fun process of getting the serpentine wire up, and the entrance now that the road is actually fully paved through Cantarranas, all the way to Talanga!

Anniversary in Guayavillas in June, and several baptisms in Los Trozos.  

There was a pastor's meeting at the end of June, which we are keeping going every month now, and June had one of the conferences that we are doing at least eveyr other month throughout the year for pastors, leaders and Milk Project staff.  

The Milk Project has had some staff changes this month, and also illness requiring time off, and now a pregnancy break as well.  Lots to keep everyone hopping, as if 200 kids isn't enough to do that.  

Also, we are close now to having three of the Milk Projects with their own electrical service, rather than adding to the church's monthly bill.  That takes time, paperwork, trips, and help from many of us, but will be better long term for all involved.  

Thanks to some generous donations, we were able to get two more sewing machines and start sewing classes as well.  Seen above is Maria, who learned a lot of sewing prowess from some help and classes probably around 14 years ago when the Milk Project was in the old clinic building, and now keeps passing those skills on.  

Vehicles...we did have a hit and run, seen above with the Land Cruiser.  Lots of routine maintenance, and two of the older Fords still in the shop, but otherwise, we have been able to get by.  It is a testament to how much the mission is doing, in so many places, that what a few years ago would have been a lot of cars, sometimes now requires careful planning on some days for everyone to get where they need to go.  

Hopefully before the end of the year, we will have the older three Fords we have in the US down here as well.  At this point, we have given up on the Denton Program option, unfortunately.  

Otherwise...I have pictures that the staff send me of the many times a month they share from the clinic the donated items we receive, like adult diapers, canes, crutches, wheelchairs, but I don't usually share them for hopefully obvious reasons of when people are most in need and how that looks in a picture. It is amazing though to see things like that, just glimpses as to how love is shown every day in the clinic.  

​What else is coming up?

We have the container scheduled to bring us a BUV (Basic Utility Vehicle) and another Gator for Sampedrana shipping early September among many other things. 

Here are some other items to keep in mind in case you or your church want to start collecting (and drop off at FAME...but only from 8/25 to 9/5)
-small toys/stuffed animals
-gently used or new tennis shoes/boots
-gently used or new children’s or adult clothing (talk to us first if you have questions!)
-Filing cabinets, desks or metal cabinets with shelves and doors
-maybe there is something else you think you have that we need?  Talk to us!

We will also be buying medicines and more to include.  You can help with that here
We also have some physical needs in the churches:
-Ceiling fans for the church in Danli $200 per fan (need at least 6)
-Stucco needs in Danli for the inside and outside of the building (hopefully $2500?)
-Cantarranas fence finishing, with some details and entry touches, $1500
-Danli and Cantarranas tile floor work, that would be several thousand dollars, but we can do that in pieces as well as donations come in for that. 

You can donate to those projects (drop us a note if you have one specific in mind) here

Say a prayer for all of us as well, there is more going on with staff family health struggles, some family members struggling with different things I can't start to go into here, and just some past hurts as well.  

I have personally heard/seen/witnessed so much in the last month around me of hurt, pain, and suffering.  I think I am fine, but also just trying to stay emotionally good with all that there is difficult.  Including someone sharing with me, the first person they had told ever, of some horrible abuse and treatment when they were younger.  

Being able to be there for someone is a privilege, but also when life in general is coming like out of a fire hose, processing, dealing with, and properly reacting is usually only something done through prayer, and lots of it, so all of us here appreciate your prayers, and by all I mean (and I counted to be sure right now) 52 full time staff.  Not counting volunteers, pastor's wives, myself or Valerie, day laborers, or the His Eyes board of directors.  

Praise God for where we are, and for where He is taking us, and for you being along with us!