We Invite You To Our Virutal Tour of Dayspring

Yesterday, the part of the LAMb team now here visited Dayspring for the first time. We were astounded at what we saw....it was more than the brick and mortar....it is the vision of a safe, nurturing home for children. 

 

Here is the youtube.com link to the video:      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu6I8PPF7p4

 

Hope you will enjoy the virtual tour.  Lynn and Ruby arrive on Monday morning. If we thought we were busy this week...we know what's coming...and can't wait.

 

To learn more about how to share in the ministry of Dayspring Family Life Resource Center, please visit:

www.dayspringfamilycenter.blogspot.com

 

the journey continues

 

Cannot Wait To Show You

Today was a historic day for David and me. We had our first official tour of Dayspring Family Resource Center. This is the new foster family home that will soon be in operation. (http://www.dayspringfamilycenter.blogspot.com/). I hope to have a "virtual tour" up over the weekend. We are so excited. We are astounded at the size of the new home and its incredible potential for permanency for children.

On another note, we began a busy time here with teaching, making plans, visiting friends and meeting new ones and participating in a Russian class at the University. I have been working on the language for a long time by myself and it is so fun to be in a class, talking, listening and growing.  I feel much more confident to carry on a conversation.  Natalia (our translator) told me today that she doesn't have to translate "my Russian" anymore for another Russian speaker to understand. That's fun!

Amidst this new busyness, this week has been a small challenge for David as he became quite ill on Tuesday and is making a slow recovery.  He always bounces back quickly and we are already making plans for a Saturday visit to the capital with friends via the marshuka.

Please check back over the weekend for the "virtual tour" of Dayspring!

A World I Cannot Comprehend

Photo:  A number of old friends surrounds our new friends - families who escaped the ethnic rioting in the southern part of the country.  At this point, they are living in a location not far from us, thankful to be in a peaceful place.

 

Our first Sunday (today) we had the privilege of meeting new friends. These men, women and children escaped the violence that ripped a part a major part of a large southern city in the summer time.  This is a world we cannot comprehend.  Last night, John and Julie told us about them and said we would feel connected to them right away. We didn't know we would see them the next morning. I told them that sometime very soon, we want to hear their story and to find out how they are really doing, especially the children after experiencing such traumatic events.

 

This evening we met with some friends of ours who are the leadership of Mercy Foundation and heard of so many, many needs.  As we were walking up the stairs upon coming home, we talked about our need to really seek God's direction to do what exactly He called us to do at this time.

 

Tomorrow, we begin our time at the University. Both of us will be teaching an 8 am class and then after that...well, as Lynn says, "it's not time to know yet." 

 

The  journey continues....

What Can One Do with Hundreds of Hours?

What can one do with hundreds of hours? If one would ask Lori Pummill  of Lebanon, Ohio, that question, she would humbly reply, "make afghans for orphans."

After we arrived home last June from Krygyzstan, I had the privlege of meeting Lori. She contacted me with one question in mind. "Is there something I can do for the work in Krygzstan? I make afghans."  Immediately I thought of our Dayspring Foster Family Resource Center, the new foster family home to be opened in a few months.http://www.dayspringfamilycenter.blogspot.com/

Lori came to me with a history of giving as she crocheted afghans for the local crisis pregnancy center. Leaving them well supplied, she looked for another pathway to give and heard of our work overseas. On Saturday, Lori stopped by our home to leave the incredible gift of afghans for the children of Dayspring. I asked her then how many hours did she think she had in making these gifts for Dayspring? "Hundreds, probably,"she quietly responded. She also told me five more will be making their way to an orphanage in India in the next two weeks.

             Lori is surrounded by the afghans she made for Dayspring. 


Little did Lori realize that her openness and caring would touch the lives of children around the world.  Thank you, Lori! We can't wait for you to see the pictures of the children who will be warmed and loved by your generosity.

Passion Comes Before Vision - The Shelter Launches Orphan Care Ministry

David and I have had the privilege of being a part of four dynamic churches throughout our 35 years in the role of the senior pastoral family. Since we now spent alot of time overseas, we have stepped back from that position and attend, support and love the people of The Shelter Community Church of the Nazarene in Dayton, Ohio. This church came out of the West Carrollton church where we last pastored as a restart and God is doing amazing things there. It is an inner city church, which focuses its ministry on recovery.

Last week was an historic day for them as they stepped out to officially launch their orphan care ministry- The Lamplighter Orphan Care Ministry of The Shelter Community Church. Their first project will be walking alongside our family foster home in Krygyzstan. http://www.dayspringfamilycenter.blogspot.com/    They are dreaming of much more in the days to come.

Passion comes before vision and it will take time to listen to God as how to best full the vision of this exciting new ministry. They are first beginning this new step with an 8 week study of the book, The Hole in the Gospel. They are also partnering with other churches in this journey who have had experience in orphan care ministry.

Here is the story....

Just A Week Away

In just one week from day, David and I will leave for our fifth trip to the beloved people of Krygystan.  To catch a glimpse of our passion for the work there, please visit our team member's blog - John and Julie Wright.  You will see why we are eager to go.

Their blog address:  http://www.actofkindness.blogspot.com/

To keep updated on the progress of our foster home project - Dayspring Family Life Resource Center, visit the blog....  http://dayspringfamilycenter.blogspot.com/

Thank you for all your support and interest.

ONLY IMAGINE

(Permission pending for music used in this video)

 

With each day, more and more progress is completed on the renovations of the Dayspring Family Resource Center in Krygyzstan.

And what is Dayspring? It is a chance for families for children who would otherwise be placed into an orphanage in Kyrgyzstan. Together with the local churches, government and concerned individuals such as yourself, we can make a difference. Children coming to Dayspring would have gone to an orphanage - the difference here is we will be working with their families doing what we can to train and help them create the conditions to receive their children back home - we will be helping government find homes for children to be adopted into, by using our churches as resources. AND we will seek permanence for every child walking through the doors of Dayspring. We are about the love of family.....

We have a fabulous couple hired to meet the children once they come to Dayspring, they will be their mother and father at Dayspring. They will love and teach them. We are working with the local church to ensure continued support and help in growing the children and strengthening the project.

Won't you consider joining us and becoming a LAMPLIGHTER! HOW?

1. GO TO THE BLOG AND JOIN OUR "BABY" SHOWER - http://www.dayspringfamilycenter.blogspot.com/

2. BECOME A MONTHLY SUPPORTER - We need 7 more $100 per month donors, 8 more $50 per month donors, 8 more $25 per month donors and 10 more $10 per month donors.

WHERE? Just click on the Canada Helps Button or the US button on the Dayspring blog and put in the special note section - for Dayspring and away you go. Just passing one cup of coffee a day, could help divert one child from the clutches and life in an orphanage!

We are excited as we look to the positive future of the children who will come!

David and I leave on September 9th for our sfifth trip to this beautiful country and beautiful people.