Things are really heating up here at Hope Ranch, in more ways than one. We are officially in the hurricane season, scorching sun and insanely high humidity mixed with lightening storms and torrential rain. The place is buzzing with preparations for receiving children and making ready for the next short-term missionary team from California, Christ Community Church in Carmichael (near Sacramento). We are so excited to host the team again this year. A group of college aged men and women who were a big hit with the children in San Felipe, we love them as well. They will be doing vacation Bible school for the children in Sejá for three days and one day in the village of San Francisco. Both villages are near the orphanage.

 

As yet, we have no indoor facility here at the ranch for activities involving large groups. So we are borrowing buildings and palapas from neighboring churches and villages. We recently got some very exciting news from Tennessee. The Scrum Group has given the OK to proceed with the church/multi-purpose building that Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg, Florida started so well last year! As I write, the Scrum Group is raising the funds! The Lord, knowing that we lack the gifting for raising funds, has provided just the right people to come alongside His “grunt-workers” in the field! What an awesome God we serve!

 

And also, nothing short of another miracle of the Lord, He sent a cruising couple from Oregon who has their sailboat at Mario’s Marina here on the Rio Dulce. The couple, Bud and Sharon Smith of Calvary Chapel Roseburg raised the funds for the first unwed mothers home to be built.