Recent pictures

This past Saturday Ryan (on the left) and Phillip (right) allowed Cami and I to take them on an adventure. They are both graduates of the program - Phillip lives close enough to still attend DCA, but Ryan does not - so it was especially great to have him around. We took them boulder. It was fun to see them be boys and enjoy one another so much. They were inseparable when they were in the program! These are two boys that are a continually reminder that the Lord truly works through this ministry. Many times people still marvel at the change in them, especially Phillip. These two remind us that we truly are new creations in Christ.

After climbing we took them to Little Tokyo, for my beloved Japanese cuisine - Ramen. It is all homemade and they serve it in bowls the size of your head. Oh it is so heavenly.

After climbing Cami and I rushed off to our first quincenetta! What a fun cultural tradition. We only stayed for about an hour, but I heard today that the party was still going past midnight. The young lady that was honored is such a woman of integrity and a great joy to have around.

Sorry the pictures aren't great.

And finally a picture from our most recent dinner with students. These are a couple of the boys currently in the program. Together we made turkeyburgers, grilled squash and some fabulous cucumbers. It was great to hang out with these boys outside of school.

1 Thessalonians 1:3

I wish that there was an encouraging story to tell you, but it has actually been a rough time around here lately. Not that anything out of the ordinary has happened, we are just at that point in the development of many of our students. We have had several leave the program recently, either by graduating or simply giving up. The transition is always a difficult time. Although there are some students who really change for good, there are many who just skate their way through the program. We do the best we can to identify this pitfall, but we can only bring them to the living water, they must choose whether or not they are going to drink.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, we had four students run away a couple months ago. Two returned, but one of them left again a few days later. I have kept in contact with the girl who left the program and spent last Thursday listening to her talk about her new life. While telling me that she is not doing bad (not making bad decisions) she also unveils that her and her dad are not speaking, that she thinks get drunk is fun and she hopes she wont get kicked out of school for always sleeping through it. And while talking with her I saw Sad Girl. She also has left her program, but what is worse is the fact that she is cutting again. Sad Girl tried to hide the evidence, but I still called her out on the fresh wounds all the way up her arms. It is so hard to see these ladies robbed of their joy. You can see it in their eyes. A hardness returns to their gaze. There is also a girl who just graduated the program but is still attending our school and I think the look in her eyes is the hardest to be confronted with. I pray that I can be compassionate toward her, but I find myself getting angry every time I look at her. Not that I am angry at her, my blood just boils as I see the enemy come and snatch the hope right out of these kids I love so much. I found myself saying, "I wish I didn't love people so much." But the reality is, I am very grateful the Lord allows me to share in a portion of His love for these kids. Every time my heart breaks I am tenderly reminded of His deep love.

There are a few who are so drastically different and sincere, they are a constant reminder that we are truly impacting lives. I just often wish we could see more of the harvesting. But not all are called to harvest. So I will continue to plant and trust the God who causes growth.

Thanks again for all your prayers and support.

An Update

Just wanted you all to know that Sad Girl is back in the program. I am not sure why they made the exception, but I am so happy they did - and she is too. We cannot talk to her yet, but everyone who has seen her said she is grinning from ear to ear (I wish you could all understand how much of a victory that is).

And Eli is safe. He met a girl on the bus and went home with her. Apparently he is living with her family in Canada somewhere. I know it seems crazy, but when you know your family doesn't want you, going home with someone who does is quite appealing. Although we were all upset that he was 'missing' for 10 days and there was a detective assigned to his missing persons case, it is nice to know he is okay. Eli just doesn't know what it is to have people actually care when he goes missing.

Prayer Request from Liberia

250,000 orphans in Liberia
30,000 under the age of five die each year
375 children were adopted between 2005-2007
The Government is about to pass a law that will stop adoption and orphan and strand the 800+ children in the care of adoption agencies

Friday - September 5 - is our chance to present our case to save the lives of thousands of children. The House of Representatives have drafted a new bill - due to be passed next Thursday. The adoption agencies have gone through the bill and changed a few major points that would essencially close adoption. Tomorrow (Friday) is our day to present our case to win them over to pass our bill.

4pm we will be hosting 14 members of the committee at the House of Representatives will come to our compound to see what we have to say.

WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS!!!!!

We are putting together a presentation to win them on adoption and show them clearly how this bill will stop adoptions and harm Liberian's children. This is our only chance to save the lives of these children. We NEED YOUR PRAYERS!!!!!


Pray for favor - the Lord turns the heart of kings. As a good friend reminded me - God hardened Pharoah's heart time and time again but when it was time he opened Pharoah's heart to show the power of the Almighty God. Pray that this is the opening of Pharoah's heart!

I love you all. Thank you for fighting this battle with me. I need you now. Liberian's children need you now. PLEASE PRAY!!!

Sherri

It has been an interesting week. Still no official word on Eli (although there is rumor that he is just partying with some friends here in LA, or with his brother). Sad Girl has made some really poor decisions but is still set on coming back to the program. Hopefully she can hold on for 23 more days.

In addition to that, four kids ran from the program yesterday - two boys and two girls. One of each came back, but the other two spent the night out on the streets together. They came back this morning and are both being dismissed from the program. My heart is so broken right now. The girl that is leaving is one that I was so close to. I see so much of myself in her. It is so hard to watch someone you love so much make so many of the same stupid decisions you made as a kid (a little taste of parenthood I guess). I just want her to believe that she is beautiful and valuable. But she doesn't. She thinks she is trash and that the world would just be better without her so she continually makes trashy decisions. If she could only she how precious she is I know she would choose life, but she doesn't. I knew she was going to run. On Thursday I told Cami that she would, I just didn't think it would come so soon. I thought I might have more time with her, but I don't. I am glad this is all coming out now. She is young and if she chooses to begin dealing with the lies that bind her now, she will discover freedom soon.
Her parents live a little ways away, so I did get to spend the morning with her and say goodbye. I just wish it could have been a happier ending. Her parents are sending her to a lock down facility now. It is hard to watch, but we all know it is what she needs. I just hope she believes in herself enough to actually make it through.

A Call to Prayer

One of our students is missing. He is from Montana and was on the bus home to visit his family, but no one has heard from him since Wednesday. He was a student about ready to graduate the discipleship program and he is 18. He got on the bus at noon on Wednesday, with $100 and a calling card. He called his grandma on Wednesday and said he was on his way, but did not tell her where he was. He was supposed to arrive home on Thursday morning but no one has seen him. His uncle missed a call from a pay phone two blocks from the greyhound station in Portland.

His name is Eli, he is native American. Please help us as we search for this young man. Because he is an adult and considered a graduate of the program, there is not a whole lot we can do legally, but we have informed the police. Please pray for Eli, his safety and that we find him soon.

I know it's not a great picture, but it at least gives you an idea :)

Eli in the back playing his flute.

In addition, I ran into Sad Girl at church today (check the blog titles Blessings to read about her). She was really bummed today because (as she put it) she really messed up. She left the program a couple of days ago and is really regretting it. She talked with her leaders and they have a policy that you have to wait 30 days before you can re-enter. She is really scared to mess up some more and greatly desires to be back in the program. Although I am worried about her, she seems to be making good decisions at the moment and I was refreshed by our conversation. She is already a different person. This is the first time I have been able to talk to her in two months. Her countenance is different. She is more talkative and less sorrowful. There is just a new presence about her, she is peaceful. Please cover her in prayer as she has to walk through the consequences of her most recent mistake. Please pray that this time will pass quickly for her and that she will be back in a process of healing soon.

Thank you for loving these kids with us and fighting for them alongside us. I will update you on both Eli and Sad Girl as soon as I can.

Hooray!!!

Today my runaway came back! I was so excited to see him, although he definitely thinks that what he did was kinda funny, and feels like he mentally has started the program over from the beginning...I'm still glad that he came back!