Hey friends!,
I wanted to share why I am hopeful, ask you for continued prayer, and list just a few of a million reasons we can lift up gratitude!
Hopeful Because:
The girls are FINALLY able to go back to school and have interaction with the other village children. Of course, this brings on a bit of worry for exposure, but as we have tried here in the states, we are trying to final a bit of normalcy.
Lorna (my sweet friend, Samuel’s daughter, and my God-given sister) has agreed to join the RH staff team. She is passionate to teach the girls dance, song, and other “fun” cirrocumulus that have been suspended during this time. She has also stepped up in a major way to be the one that facetimes me, sends picture updates, and any other news from RH. I truly could not do this without her.
WE’VE WELCOMED A NEW PRINCESS IN!!! My heart has been heavy in making the decision not to continue work of going into the br0+h3ls. This means rescue has been put at a pause to keep the health of our current girls at top priority. However, this sweet girl lost her mother to a sudden death, and her Dad was ready to sell her into work because he cannot afford to keep her. Thankfully, through connection with the village residents, she ended up at our front door instead. Divine Intervention? Indeed. Though our rescue mission is still at a standstill until more relief is given to the current COVID-19 patients, this one rescue has reminded me of WHY we are doing this.
Prayers For:
Surrounding illness. As I mentioned in the last blog (June 29th), COVID-19 has been making it course around the local villages, markets, schools, everywhere- just as it is here. The problem is, while we may not have all the answers, the Bengali people are lacking in medical care all around. The treatment areas are slim, jam packed, and boarder line impossible to get into. Then once you’re in, what’s next? Zero answers. Like most of you reading this: the staff, my friends and family have all lost people to this virus. Please continue to pray for them as at times they feel helpless.
The girls as they travel back to school, as they interact as safely as possible, and as they try to soak up missed opportunities to learn. Thankfully, we were able to have tutors each week come into RH and spend extra time with them, and for that, I am grateful.
Travel…. this is a tough one. Each time I talk to the girls, they say “Please come back soon. Tomorrow is good.” Pray for openings and the ability to travel and not take sickness to the village. Pray for airlines, the staff, and all the logistics that go into planning a trip. I wish I had a projected date to give, but I do not. Praying hard for this.
Gratitude Overflow:
Oddly enough, I am grateful for knowing that even when I am 9,000+ miles away, our girls are still getting love and care. As much as I desire to be with them, I am at ease knowing that I am not “needed” for everything to work smoothly.
^^ This gratitude is in line with the staff, the community of people around them, and for my sweet family: Samuel, Molly and Lorna— it truly takes a village.
I am encouraged and reminded by YOU, and I cannot express my gratitude for this. Thank you for reaching out, for writing our girls, for checking in, for donating your hard earned money, and for having a place in your heart for them.
God could 100% do this without me, without anyone I mentioned, but I am so thankful he CHOOSES us to do this work together. Thank you for partnering with my passion — thank you for loving our girls.
Niarmau excited about making (and eating) pancakes!
“Pancake” cooking class!
Sweet daisy teaching them to make dough!