Wednesday, May 14, 2008

EXCITING TIMES
It’s very exciting times, Greg and I had such a refreshing time in Atlanta, the hospitality was exceptional; we felt like it was home, especially at church. The Sunday service at the Landmark church is so much like the House of Praise church, lots of spontaneity, and participation from the congregation. We feel that we now have a third home from home.
Greg loved it there, especially the fellowship with other likeminded Christians. We had so many good memories of our stay in Atlanta including
our short trek on The Appalachian Trail which was the ‘icing on the cake’.

THE APALLACHIAN TRAIL
Of course our primary purpose for the trip was to attend the annual ‘Banquet’ hosted by New Covenant Ministries (you may have noticed that there has been a slight name change of the Association.) The banquet was a huge success raising US $300.000 in Faith Promises.My understanding of a Faith Promise ‘in a nut shell’ is.............……………. A Faith Promise is where a certain amount of money is promised to the ministry in faith believing that God in return will do something for us that we could not possible do for ourselves. There might be a time limit of say a year for this promise to be fulfilled; if the request from God is not fulfilled, then the promise is not binding. The key is “only believe”. If we only believe, a Faith Promise can be a wonderful opportunity to see the hand of God Move Mountains in our own personal lives, to be in awe of His amazing power, and then to be able to give back in some way that will benefit the kingdom of God. IT’S AWESOME!

THE BANQUET
So we wait Greg and I, expectantly on God, believing that we will be able to fulfill our own personal Faith Promise. It’s very exciting times indeed.
More exciting news as a result of our trip to Atlanta, is that regular sponsorship of HopeHouse to the sum of US$750.00 per month has been raised. Thanks to all those people who responded to the needs of the children here at HopeHouse.
Mathew 25:40
In as much as you did it to least of these my bretheren you did it for me.
What an amazing difference the extra funds combined with the support from Australia is making in the lives of these girls.One of the first things we did on return was to buy a pump, this means that now the girls don’t have to cart water to the veggie patch. It’s a chore none of them liked, so they are thrilled about the water now freely flowing from a garden hose, they almost fight over who gets to hose down the plants.We have also been able to increase the food intake adding meat, chicken and fish to the diet as well as fruit and milk. With the help of the girls input we have created a new menu, which I am very happy to say, means that, lentils andbeans are no longer an everyday feature. As you can imagine .................the girls are thriving and are so very
appreciative.

THE SANDPITT : Building their own ‘Machu Picchu’

Even though we had such a good time in Atlanta, it’s good to be back with our girls. They gave us such a warm, warm welcome, it was very touching. Most of them were biting at the bit to tell of their news, and what had been happening during our absence. The younger girls were more interested in the lollies we brought for them, while the older girls wanted to know all about the Banquet; it was a great time of sharing.
The Bonners’ new house is finished. ……..Hooray !
We moved in two weeks after our return and are so enjoying our own space. A reliable hot shower, a fridge that really works, cold drinks on hand all the time……….such luxury. We even have our own T.V. and DVD player (Thanks David).

There are no chairs to sit on yet, but still.....it's great. All in good time.
The foundations of the house and the stone sections of the walls were built by generous donations from Sydney and the top of the walls and the roof were built by more generous donations from Atlanta. I would like to acknowledge the combined effort and say a huge big ‘THANK YOU’.
It seems that with everything there is a cost benefit, though we are delighted about the house the girls are not so keen. They miss having us in the house, and they have expressed feelings of being a bit distant from us. We even had two girls run away, but fortunately they returned the same day. It takes time to adapt to any change but we know it will happen (please pray about this), our God is faithful. He provides for all of our needs even above and beyond what we could ever imagine.
God provided a wonderful opportunity to spend
some quality-time with the girls just recently.

CHOSICA - THE SOLICITORS CLUB
We all had two wonderful days staying at the ‘Solicitors Club’. This is an exclusive outdoor swimming pool area, with bungalows and other attractions such as a volley court and paddle boats. Although we only had one night there the girls had such a great time as too, did we. It was a time of bonding and spending some real quality time with each other. We felt this was needed to compensate for the way the girls were feeling. I would like to thank
Laura Reynalds for carefully choosing a swim suit for each of the girls and for making this trip possible. We could not have done it without your help.
Also the staff at HopeHouse pitched in as well as Greg and I, to make it happen. The girls know that we love them, and are begining to adapt to the new living arrangements. PRAISE HIM !
Trevor Goodson paid us a visit from Sydney, we had a great catch-up time and really enjoyed hearing the Aussie accent again.
Trevor will be remembered by the girls for a long time, he spoilt them with lollies and took us all out for a meal after church on Sunday, not only this, but Trevor made a connection with all of us, we hope he will come back soon.
So many more significant things have happend but they are too numerous to mention in any detail, suffice to say in all of these things our GOD is faithful, and His mercies endure forever.

Prayer Points:
1. Our girls will continue to adapt to the new living arrangements.
2. Gregs health.
3. Emotional recovery from our experience in Arequipa (see post on 'Arequipa')
4. Continued financial support since the German group have reduced our funding.
5. Korean connections and support would materialize.
6. To find more reliable staff to cover Greg and I when we are away.
7. Salvation of all the girls and in fact of our own children.
8. That the construction of the new HopeHouse 2 could materialize soon
9. Patty's final eye appointment will bring good news after all her tests.
Praise Points:
1. Our God is faithful. Greg and I have been strengthened in our faith and we know, first hand that when we call on Him He answers us.
2. The girls who are growing stronger in their faith, wish to be baptized (pray for them too).
3. Construction is underway for the new church, clinic and football field.
4. We expect some more teams from Atlanta and Colorado in June to help out at HopeHouse.
5. Visit from 3 APEC representatives of Korean nationality.
Saved by His grace, and so greatful,
Bridget and for Greg

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NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2008


On 23rd of December 2007 our Christmas fun began. We had our very first Christmas party at HopeHouse and invited the women from the other refuge, 'Pat's Place, which is another ministry of NCCM. (the refuge is for battered women).


The party was so much fun. We made a piñata, (Santa Clause head) and it was a hugh success, everyone had a go at it, even the adults. There were 49 people in all, it was a lot of organizing but Greg was so helpful, he put up some decorations and balloons, leaving our dining room looking just so beautiful.



We all really enjoyed the day.



Christmas day was also lovely. First thing in the morning we had ‘devotional’. We gathered together as normal in the living room and dedicated the day to God, each child´´s prayer went up as a sweet aroma to our God. Though these children miss their mothers and fathers, there was a good feeling in the room.
A cheer of elation went out as I explained that nobody had to do their usual chores today and that we were going to have Christmas movies, play party games and enjoy good food all day.

It was a very relaxing day, just lazing around the house most of the time, but of course we played volley ball, which everyone always enjoys. It was probably the most active thing we did all day. Now that there are so many of us the game has become very exciting, especially when the winners receive a small prize.
Alex and (Holly above), are newly arrived missionaries from Atlanta, who came for lunch on Christmas day, along with Kareen, a volunteer teacher. It was a great day.

NEW YEAR'S EVE

We had a sleepless new year with very loud music and explosions all through the night.........Peruvians love to party conspicupusly! After much persuasion from the girls, we too had the traditional New Years Eve, with a bonfire and fireworks at 12 mn, burning old clothes in the form of a type of guy-fawkes figure, but with a different meaning. The old clothes representing old things gone forever! Also the colour 'yellow' is significant, people wear yellow clothing or underwear, we simply had yellow streamers instead. Nobody really gave me an answer as to why this colour is significant, it just is.

Moving on to the future, we still have room for 7 more girls. Right now it seems as if for every 3 girls we take on, 1 will be a permanent stayer. We currently have fifteen girls, Marcos (Flor´s brother) went back to his mother at his mother's request.


The house has been unsettled this week as two of our girls ran away during the night. It seems, no matter how much we give them, no matter how much we love them, there is an emptiness, a longing, a broken heart deep inside. Sometimes at night they wake and all they want to do is cry, cry, cry, so they cry themselves to sleep again, not knowing, not really understanding why they feel the way they do, not communicating their feelings because they don't know what to communicate! Please pray for these ones.

Out of the two girls that ran away, one of them has returned, she related to our psychologist the truth I have just shared with you. May her broken heart be healed in Jesus name.



PRAYER POINTS

• 1) Pray for the girls who have a deep longing for love, that their needs would be filled at HopeHouse, that they could experience the love of God through Greg and I, the other girls, and, all the staff.


• 2) That we find a replacement for our Social Worker Deyanira who has moved on to look after a dying relative in Piura, up north.


• 3) That the Oberle Fundacion continue to fund wages for our psychologist, House Mother and social worker (new).


• 4) That we receive girls more likely to be permanent stayers rather than transient.


• 5) That we can find a specialist who can help Patti one of our newer girls who has a bad eye since birth. We will take her to a specialist next week.


• 6) That we can find a second house mother to take some of the load from Elena, when we go to Atlanta to raise support for Hope House one and for (potentially) Hopehouse 2.


• 7) That God would empower us in our attempts to communicate the needs of the girls in Peru.


• 8) That we can find schools for all the girls, this year.


• 9) That Greg and I would be able to minister effectively to the girls and their specific needs.


• 10) That we would know the Lord`s leading for our future, that we may hear His still small voice.

PRAISE POINTS

• Pastor Bruce, from NCCM was here for five days to purchase the land for the construction of HOPEHOUSE TWO, a new church, a clinic and a sports complex.


• Our Christmas party was initiated and fully funded by NCCM.


• An opportunity has arisen for Greg and I to go to Atlanta in February 2008 to attend a banquet and do some fund raising, we are hoping to raise the money to build HopeHouse Two, for boys.


• This year will certainly be an exciting year, a year where I believe, we will see HopeHouse One reaching it’s full potential, and where the vision of HOPEHOUSE TWO may to become a reality `

Blessings to all

Bridget

&

Greg

Psalm 37. The Lord is close to the broken hearted, He is near to those crushed in Spirit.