I have been having such a blessed time since I last wrote on here. Well blessed and a little ill. I had been very sick to my stomach and finally went to the doctor. I found out that I have a parasite. I am much better now after taking medication, but there were a rough few days. My luck continued as I was walking in the rural area one day and a thorn not only went through the heel of my sandal but into my foot. No worries, I am great now, just limping. 

              My internship has definitely picked up as time has gone on, and I love it. This past Monday I went to the market with Julie to buy fabric for the purses. She is the one who originally came up with the whole purse ministry and whom I am assisting during my time here. We bought some cute fabric that morning then headed out to the care point where the ladies meet every Monday and Thursday to cut the fabric for the purses. They all cut it and divide it up together, then take the bundles home and sew the purses on their own. Once they are done; they bring the finished product to the care point on a Mon. or Thurs. and Julie picks them up. Next, all the purses are checked for quality in the office and if there are no glitches, they are shipped to America. That's kind of an overview of the process. I mention it because I am now actively involved in each step, well minus the whole sewing part. At the care point this Monday I led a Bible study for the women, then spent the rest of the time helping them cut the fabric. Julie has asked me to continue this every Monday while I am here because she cannot usually make it out there twice a week. So I am very excited to get to go and pick out the fabric and take it to the women then help them cut and distribute it. Also, I'll be leading a Bible study for them every Monday from now on, so I may start a series or something. I just look forward to getting to know them better. They are incredible people with true servants hearts. On days that I am not at this particular care point for the meeting, I will either be helping Julie in the office or visiting with the women at the care point they normally serve at by either teaching or cooking.

           I actually have been doing this some already and its awesome! I just go to different care points and visit or help the women there. For instance, yesterday I went to the care point at Timbutini. While there, I visited with some women just sitting under a tree and got to know about their lives and their children. One lady, Noktula, has four children of her own and is also raising her husbands brother's five children. So she has nine in all and can‘t afford to send any of them to school. I'm having lunch at her house Sunday afternoon and really look forward to taking some little presents to those children and loving on them. At the care point, I also helped one of the ladies cook the pop and "wash" dishes. Wash is a relative term; I wiped the dishes off with a filthy rag in brown nasty water. My good friend Thulie is the teacher there; we got to visit some as well. I am going to take her to the doctor on Friday and pay for her transportation and any other bills she might have. I also want to take her out to lunch somewhere nice; KFC is probably the best option! She has aids and is supposed to go to the doctor every month but has not been able to afford to go in a while.

The Lord has really blessed me already in my short time here. I am growing and learning so much through Him; it is very encouraging. I am tempted to worry about the future and the uncertainty that lies in it; then I realize how blessed my life is right now and how I could have never planned this out for myself. In those moments, I praise God for being in control of my life and regive Him my future and my plans over and over. I am focusing on the present and trying to take advantage of every second I have with these beautiful people. Another thing that I am very excited about in working with the ladies is just having fun with them. They love to play and sing and laugh no matter their age. I am currently planning a Valentines Day party for them next Thursday and am thinking of things for the future. If any of you have any good ideas let me know.

Thank you as always for taking the time to read this and for your support. I am so greatly blessed and encouraged and supported in a number of ways; my friends and family in America are always used by the Lord in this. Thanks and God bless.