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Your kind thoughts and deeds create a
ton of fun!
It arrived from
Ireland about a week and a half ago, a duffel bag from the Faythe Harriers
Sports Club stuffed with uniforms that had been worn by the big guys, real
players on a real soccer team. The word excitement isn’t enough to describe
what the kids felt and expressed. Because we had visitors on site
at the moment, ready to teach the kids about God’s plan for their future,
we merely made the announcement about the real team uniforms and placed
the duffel bag in storage, telling the kids we would open the goodies in
a week’s time. The kids could barely contain themselves. This
is the very first time we experienced what felt like begging. The
kids could hardly wait to dig into to those real uniforms worn by real
soccer players on a real soccer team.
In the meantime,
Fielden and Janet Allison, missionary friends of ours from twenty years
ago in Kenya were ready with their own brand of fun and teaching combined.
Fielden and Janet raised their own five children on the mission field and
have touched the hearts and lives of countless Kenyan folk, young and old
alike. They came to teach a marriage and family course to the married couples
in the congregation, but they also graciously agreed to speak to the teenage
lambs of Betikara. For two days, Fielden and Janet mixed fun with teaching
and focused on the subjects of purity and God’s plan for choosing a mate,
two subjects that every Malagasy youth should learn. The Allison’s expertise
in this area was an answer to prayer as we try to help these kids over
life’s hurdles to adulthood.
The kids responded
well. They took notes, joined actively in conversation, and in spite
of giggling over the embarrassing parts, they received the teaching with
joy and thanksgiving. We pray that the seed of God that Fielden and Janet
planted in these young hearts will bloom and grow with strength and beauty.
The kids asked
frequently about the real uniforms from the real soccer team players, but
they remained patient until the big day. The duffel bag was drug
out of the storage room, the top untied, and amidst ooh’s and aah’s and
mass confusion, each child of Betikara received their own real uniform
from a real soccer player. go ahead, take a look see for yourself.
Fielden and Janet Allison
Kind thoughts
and deeds create a ton of fun at Betikara. Our deep appreciation
goes out to both Fielden and Janet Allison for their joyful spirits and
desire to teach and to the Faythe Harriers Sports Club for their desire
to provide a bit of fun to orphaned children in a country where real uniforms
are a rare delight. You will be in our prayers as we ask the Father to
bless you as you have blessed us.
Tears and Joy
I’ve known Vi
Shank for more than 30 years. She reached a hand out to me in love before
I became a Christian. She served her Lord for more than 90 years with grace,
love, and joy, and now she rests with her Savior. We have both tears and
joy for Vi Shank of Indiana, Pennsylvania. Tears for ourselves for
missing her presence, but joy for her reward. Perhaps what we will
miss the most are the prayers Vi has sent up over the years for the work
in Kenya, the work in Madagascar, and especially her prayers for the Betikara
lambs.
Your donations
in memory of Vi are deeply appreciated. These lambs will know Him
better because of both Vi and you, and we pray His blessings upon you as
you have blessed us.
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