Traveled home yesterday beginning at 3:30 am and arriving home about 10:00 pm; long day, but an exhaustion borne up by wonderful feelings of gratitude and love. Love and gratitude first of all to Christ; He always does above and beyond what we can imagine or even think, and that truly was the case from the beginning of our gathering during January 2012 in preparation, to the final day, May 15th, that we spent with the orphans. But beyond that, love and gratitude to the team that took on this mission. This team demonstrated the love of God, in Christ Jesus, to orphans who have been cast aside by life, and to refugee women, that relished the opportunity to serve coffee and have woman to woman conversations, and to see their children loved by a group of American missionaries. I stated in an earlier post, that the Administrator of the facility, Stefcha, said that you could see the love that we had for the children from an airplane, and that was true.
Our prayers in the beginning were that we would have favor with the children, with the administration, and within the team framework, and that the work would go well. Thank you God that you hear our prayers and you allow us to cooperate with you in touching tender hearts; tender hearts beyond belief. The children and the team wept as we departed from the facility; it seemed as though every one was crying. Tears of joy to be sure, but tears of already missing each other. There were so many appeals for the team to return as soon as possible. And God has stirred the tender hearts of the team to again take up the mantle of touching hearts and changing lives. I suspect that many on this team will return to Macedonia in the coming years and that lives will be changed because of that commitment.
Thank you again to our supporters; you have an integral part of all that was accomplished for the children. Without you, none of this would have been possible. Your financial support and your prayer support carried the day. The team got most of the benefit, but I certainly believe that there are treasures in heaven stored up for those that supported this team and this mission project. This team thanks all of you, and we love you with a powerful love that comes straight from the heart of God. He loves, so we love, and so you have loved us and made this possible. God bless each of you.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven...... for where you treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6: 19 - 21).
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27)
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