November 2005 Newsletter
From Susan Clarkson Keller - November, 14, 2005
Dear friends of Suzy's, Wheeler's, and all our beloved family at LAMB,
So much is happening in Teguc right now!! I am sorry that I haven't sent anything out this way in quite awhile. The BIG news right now is that the closing for the property for the GLL Residential Children's Home will be happening this week!!! Despite some attempted maneuvering from the adjacent town who wanted to squeeze some money their way, looks like it is all a GO.
Please PRAY that it will all go well. As you all know, anything can happen, so do pray.
The other great news that some may not know is that Wheeler Conkling's eye has been saved. Halleluah! He came down with shingles in October which attacked his eye socket. He almost lost his eye. He went home to Roswell, GA and was cared for there around the clock closely for several weeks and thanks be to God, he is doing well. He went back to LAMB on Nov 7th, but will be going back home after a couple of weeks per doctor's orders until the first of the year. He has been SUCH an incredible blessing for Suzy and all of the LAMB community.
I am going to paste in some of Suzy's emails, starting with the less recent to the most recent. This is a bit long, but well worth the read...it's from hand of Suzy herself!
from 10/24/05:
"We had an important personnel meeting at the residential home this morning.
There were lots of things to talk about, and I also asked everybody to pray long and hard about their long-term commitment with us. We have been here three months now, and it is time to evaluate. Evelyn is helping me with some administrative things, and I am asking the Lord for an administrator for the residential program, somebody like Gladys who can be the manager here. I just cannot do it all, and expect things to go well. There are things I love about being here, and if I were an administrator, perhaps I would do it myself, but my work in missionary training isn't over yet. In fact, there are new opportunities now with the existence of the agency, and I am eager to get back to that next year. Arely wants to help more, and Evelyn has been a godsend, too. Now I am seeing why the Lord never brought missionaries alongside me here. These young people are just what we need! Dony is working hard, too, on the legal end, and of course I have Astrid here, and Ricardo, to help shape the residential program. All of them are from Flor, and all except Ricardo were/are part of our university scholarship program. Now, as young Christian professionals with a heart for the poor, they are pouring themselves into our ministry. It is yet another beautiful work of the Lord, another part of the mosaic He has been creating these past years. They all have missionary hearts, too, and are as eager as I am to send out missionaries from El Cordero.
I was disappointed when I opened the Institute, and these young people didn't enroll, but if they had, I wouldn't have them working alongside me now as lawyer, psychologist, administrative assistant, agriculturist, nurse.
Thank God He doesn't do things the way we want Him to! He always sees further, knows better, does the unexpected and perfect thing. " "I have been thinking a lot about how to celebrate Christmas here. This will be our first Christmas, and I think it would be neat to have some
"traditions". I have encouraged the staff to work on some crafts with the children that they can sell in order to have something to give at Christmas time as well, to children poorer than they are. I don't ever want them to think that they are so poor that they have nothing to give. For gifts, I think we will just do stockings, amply stocked with fruits and candies and small gifts. If we have the resources, perhaps we can buy one Christmas gift that will bless everyone, like a set of family videos, or a new game, or outdoor sports equipment, or something like that. For food, we'll go typical Honduran: tamales and Coca-Cola. And we'll have to do some fireworks at midnight.
Cristo Redentor usually has its Christmas services early on Christmas Eve, so we'll have plenty of time to come home and celebrate afterwards. I want to put up an Advent calendar and Advent wreath, too, along with the tree and a nativity scene. For many of our children, it will be the first Christmas they have ever celebrated. Reason enough to make it special! I want them to look forward to Jesus' birthday every year, but not just because of the gifts they receive, but because of the symbolism of what His incarnation has meant for all of us as Christians. We can have a family meeting every year and talk about what our Christmas gift to Jesus will be this year."
>From 10/31/05:
When I was at Social Services today finalizing the paperwork for the eight children they are giving us tomorrow, I had an opportunity to read some of the children's psychological/social reports (about where they came from, why they are in Social Services, etc.). Their stories, every one of them, is heartbreaking. I was feeling anxious about taking eight when I got there, but ran off before offering to take a few more! I read about a 15-yr-old girl whose own older brother tricked her, with a friend, into being taken to a house of prostitution! Her own brother! When the authorities arrived, they took her home and found there an invalid mother and an old grandmother. The three of them were living in a bamboo hut with a dirt floor, no income, no meds or care for the invalid mother. The grandmother and mother told the authorities to take her to a home, as they did not feel they could care for her. And she isn't one of the children coming here tomorrow, just a report I read while waiting. Ugh. Made me remember the teenager who asked me one day when I was over there, "You'd never leave YOUR daughter in a place like this, would you?"
All I could say was, "I hope not." Because so often the situation is just so very very precarious, you can see why the family does it, even though it is a death knell emotionally for the children, who can't help feeling abandoned even if they understand, which they usually don't. I didn't mean to get into all of that, just have it so fresh in my heart and mind just now. At our staff meeting today we talked about Jesus being the vine, and us the branches, and how we need to be grafted into Him, filled with His Spirit, or we will not be able to minister to these children the love they need. Please pray that for me."
>From 11/5/2005:
"The new kids are settling in, and we are adjusting, too. Eight at once really changes the atmosphere! Bless their hearts, they have all been through a lot, and have a long way to go, but they are in Jesus' arms now, and we are praying for their healing and growth. One little girl, Eyssel Xiomara, is ten years old, and is here without siblings. Her file sounds more like a rap sheet, but also talks about how her mother and step father (her father was killed when she was a toddler) sent her out to sell tortillas every day, and if she didn't bring home enough money, she was severely punished, sometimes by putting a heavy rock on her head and having her kneel on the ground that way for a long period of time. They never put her in school. She has been the perfect child here so far, and while sometimes there is a "honeymoon period", I am thinking that she is going to be one of those people who understands that they have been given a fresh start, and are eager to take advantage of it.
She is so excited about studying! Paty Sanchez is going to teach the new children during school vacation so that they will be ready for first grade next year. The 14-yr-old mother has been the most challenging. She is extremely immature. The baby is only 2 months old, and we are seeing that her care will fall mostly to us, as her mom, Karla, does not seem to have any maternal feelings towards her. The baby's name is Yojana. Mandie is coming in the morning to take pictures of all of the new children so that you can see them. We had to cut the little girls' hair really short because of the loads of lice, so they aren't going to want to have their photos taken, but we'll try to get some good shots. It won't be hard for you to see how beautiful they are.
Elsa and Sallie are talking up a storm. Elsa has been asking me a lot lately, "I'm good, right?" I think she's heard the older child call each other "bad" when they tease each other, or want to bother each other.
Sallie is excited about helping with kitchen cleanup after supper. She gets a rag and wipes tables, and then gets a towel to help dry dishes. "I help, mom. I help." So cute. I continue to feel good about Mari, Noe and Lety. They have been real champions out here, holding babies, changing diapers, playing playing playing with the littles ones, very little complaining. They are glad to have Betsy's to go to when they feel they can't take it anymore, and we still have a family outing once/week, but when they are here, they are participating. I lived quite a few years without playing dodgeball, basketball, croquet, duck duck goose, etc., but am being re-initiated into all of these activities!
Not to mention Legos, "store", "house", "beauty parlor" (Dilcia fixed my hair tonight; she's 3). Fun. We have a group of 12 going to Costa Rica for the missionary training with Global Teams. They are excited. It's a great group. They will be a "dream class" for Orlando Otarola, and I am thankful to God for their enthusiasm, and for all that is happening with missions right now in our midst, and in Honduras. Walter is being offered a place on Servant Partners/Puerta Al Mundo's Mauritania team, with the idea that he will serve there for a few years, learn the culture and the language, and then perhaps lead a team into Algeria.
Jenny is still hoping to go out with Global Teams to Pakistan, also in 2006. It is happening! The Lord is always faithful to His Word.
We had Mandie's going away luncheon today. Great turnout, and a sweet time. I think she felt loved and blessed. We also had our monthly prayer vigil tonight, and it was wonderful, too. Angel does such a good job of being our pastor. Esther gave a teaching called "Life, Purpose and Destiny." It was excellent."
Now , back to me, Susan...Mandie Turner is back in Charleston after a 6 month time of service at LAMB. God used her in many ways there and in lots of children's lives. I know she is missed down there, but I am happy to have her back up here with us! Diana Collins and team from Vermont just left today from a construction trip at LAMB to go back home. I believe Diana has stayed on a few days.
Oh, just to let ya'll know, the folks in Barnwell are getting some extra funds together for Christmas for the daycare kids and friends in Roswell, GA , are planning to send some special Christmas goodies for the residential children.
I would ask your prayers for us on the home front here as well....we are definitely going through growing challenges. Please pray for wisdom, time, energy for all the different things that need to happen...thanks!
Lastly, as I mentioned in the last quarterly letter to donors, if any of you are in a prayer group, I would ask that you let me know . I would like to ask different prayer groups to pray for different aspects of the ministry.
May the Lord "enlighten the eyes" of all of our hearts that we might love Him more, live more simply and more focused on the things Jesus would have us do.
Much love in Jesus, Susan
ps Oh, I thought this quote from Amy Carmichael's Gold Cord, was amazingly appropriate for those of us here concerned with keeping the money going down to Teguc! Amy Carmichael was a missionary from Ireland who lived her whole life in India, founding the now very famous Dohnavur Fellowship, which continues her work to this day. She rescued many hundreds of children from from temple prostitution from the 1920's for some 30 years . This excerpt that she writes around 1925 really made me, who as Board Chair of LAMB, really really smile!
"Our friends at home were very kind. Sometimes they inquired though, through their Secretary on the field, what our plans were, and how much bigger we proposed to grow, and what our financial liabilities would be. But we could not tell them, for we ourselves did not know. WE could only assure them that those "financial liabilities " would never be theirs to meet, for that responsibility belonged to our Lord and Master, our Unseen Leader." Page 195, Gold Cord
Dear friends of Suzy's, Wheeler's, and all our beloved family at LAMB,
So much is happening in Teguc right now!! I am sorry that I haven't sent anything out this way in quite awhile. The BIG news right now is that the closing for the property for the GLL Residential Children's Home will be happening this week!!! Despite some attempted maneuvering from the adjacent town who wanted to squeeze some money their way, looks like it is all a GO.
Please PRAY that it will all go well. As you all know, anything can happen, so do pray.
The other great news that some may not know is that Wheeler Conkling's eye has been saved. Halleluah! He came down with shingles in October which attacked his eye socket. He almost lost his eye. He went home to Roswell, GA and was cared for there around the clock closely for several weeks and thanks be to God, he is doing well. He went back to LAMB on Nov 7th, but will be going back home after a couple of weeks per doctor's orders until the first of the year. He has been SUCH an incredible blessing for Suzy and all of the LAMB community.
I am going to paste in some of Suzy's emails, starting with the less recent to the most recent. This is a bit long, but well worth the read...it's from hand of Suzy herself!
from 10/24/05:
"We had an important personnel meeting at the residential home this morning.
There were lots of things to talk about, and I also asked everybody to pray long and hard about their long-term commitment with us. We have been here three months now, and it is time to evaluate. Evelyn is helping me with some administrative things, and I am asking the Lord for an administrator for the residential program, somebody like Gladys who can be the manager here. I just cannot do it all, and expect things to go well. There are things I love about being here, and if I were an administrator, perhaps I would do it myself, but my work in missionary training isn't over yet. In fact, there are new opportunities now with the existence of the agency, and I am eager to get back to that next year. Arely wants to help more, and Evelyn has been a godsend, too. Now I am seeing why the Lord never brought missionaries alongside me here. These young people are just what we need! Dony is working hard, too, on the legal end, and of course I have Astrid here, and Ricardo, to help shape the residential program. All of them are from Flor, and all except Ricardo were/are part of our university scholarship program. Now, as young Christian professionals with a heart for the poor, they are pouring themselves into our ministry. It is yet another beautiful work of the Lord, another part of the mosaic He has been creating these past years. They all have missionary hearts, too, and are as eager as I am to send out missionaries from El Cordero.
I was disappointed when I opened the Institute, and these young people didn't enroll, but if they had, I wouldn't have them working alongside me now as lawyer, psychologist, administrative assistant, agriculturist, nurse.
Thank God He doesn't do things the way we want Him to! He always sees further, knows better, does the unexpected and perfect thing. " "I have been thinking a lot about how to celebrate Christmas here. This will be our first Christmas, and I think it would be neat to have some
"traditions". I have encouraged the staff to work on some crafts with the children that they can sell in order to have something to give at Christmas time as well, to children poorer than they are. I don't ever want them to think that they are so poor that they have nothing to give. For gifts, I think we will just do stockings, amply stocked with fruits and candies and small gifts. If we have the resources, perhaps we can buy one Christmas gift that will bless everyone, like a set of family videos, or a new game, or outdoor sports equipment, or something like that. For food, we'll go typical Honduran: tamales and Coca-Cola. And we'll have to do some fireworks at midnight.
Cristo Redentor usually has its Christmas services early on Christmas Eve, so we'll have plenty of time to come home and celebrate afterwards. I want to put up an Advent calendar and Advent wreath, too, along with the tree and a nativity scene. For many of our children, it will be the first Christmas they have ever celebrated. Reason enough to make it special! I want them to look forward to Jesus' birthday every year, but not just because of the gifts they receive, but because of the symbolism of what His incarnation has meant for all of us as Christians. We can have a family meeting every year and talk about what our Christmas gift to Jesus will be this year."
>From 10/31/05:
When I was at Social Services today finalizing the paperwork for the eight children they are giving us tomorrow, I had an opportunity to read some of the children's psychological/social reports (about where they came from, why they are in Social Services, etc.). Their stories, every one of them, is heartbreaking. I was feeling anxious about taking eight when I got there, but ran off before offering to take a few more! I read about a 15-yr-old girl whose own older brother tricked her, with a friend, into being taken to a house of prostitution! Her own brother! When the authorities arrived, they took her home and found there an invalid mother and an old grandmother. The three of them were living in a bamboo hut with a dirt floor, no income, no meds or care for the invalid mother. The grandmother and mother told the authorities to take her to a home, as they did not feel they could care for her. And she isn't one of the children coming here tomorrow, just a report I read while waiting. Ugh. Made me remember the teenager who asked me one day when I was over there, "You'd never leave YOUR daughter in a place like this, would you?"
All I could say was, "I hope not." Because so often the situation is just so very very precarious, you can see why the family does it, even though it is a death knell emotionally for the children, who can't help feeling abandoned even if they understand, which they usually don't. I didn't mean to get into all of that, just have it so fresh in my heart and mind just now. At our staff meeting today we talked about Jesus being the vine, and us the branches, and how we need to be grafted into Him, filled with His Spirit, or we will not be able to minister to these children the love they need. Please pray that for me."
>From 11/5/2005:
"The new kids are settling in, and we are adjusting, too. Eight at once really changes the atmosphere! Bless their hearts, they have all been through a lot, and have a long way to go, but they are in Jesus' arms now, and we are praying for their healing and growth. One little girl, Eyssel Xiomara, is ten years old, and is here without siblings. Her file sounds more like a rap sheet, but also talks about how her mother and step father (her father was killed when she was a toddler) sent her out to sell tortillas every day, and if she didn't bring home enough money, she was severely punished, sometimes by putting a heavy rock on her head and having her kneel on the ground that way for a long period of time. They never put her in school. She has been the perfect child here so far, and while sometimes there is a "honeymoon period", I am thinking that she is going to be one of those people who understands that they have been given a fresh start, and are eager to take advantage of it.
She is so excited about studying! Paty Sanchez is going to teach the new children during school vacation so that they will be ready for first grade next year. The 14-yr-old mother has been the most challenging. She is extremely immature. The baby is only 2 months old, and we are seeing that her care will fall mostly to us, as her mom, Karla, does not seem to have any maternal feelings towards her. The baby's name is Yojana. Mandie is coming in the morning to take pictures of all of the new children so that you can see them. We had to cut the little girls' hair really short because of the loads of lice, so they aren't going to want to have their photos taken, but we'll try to get some good shots. It won't be hard for you to see how beautiful they are.
Elsa and Sallie are talking up a storm. Elsa has been asking me a lot lately, "I'm good, right?" I think she's heard the older child call each other "bad" when they tease each other, or want to bother each other.
Sallie is excited about helping with kitchen cleanup after supper. She gets a rag and wipes tables, and then gets a towel to help dry dishes. "I help, mom. I help." So cute. I continue to feel good about Mari, Noe and Lety. They have been real champions out here, holding babies, changing diapers, playing playing playing with the littles ones, very little complaining. They are glad to have Betsy's to go to when they feel they can't take it anymore, and we still have a family outing once/week, but when they are here, they are participating. I lived quite a few years without playing dodgeball, basketball, croquet, duck duck goose, etc., but am being re-initiated into all of these activities!
Not to mention Legos, "store", "house", "beauty parlor" (Dilcia fixed my hair tonight; she's 3). Fun. We have a group of 12 going to Costa Rica for the missionary training with Global Teams. They are excited. It's a great group. They will be a "dream class" for Orlando Otarola, and I am thankful to God for their enthusiasm, and for all that is happening with missions right now in our midst, and in Honduras. Walter is being offered a place on Servant Partners/Puerta Al Mundo's Mauritania team, with the idea that he will serve there for a few years, learn the culture and the language, and then perhaps lead a team into Algeria.
Jenny is still hoping to go out with Global Teams to Pakistan, also in 2006. It is happening! The Lord is always faithful to His Word.
We had Mandie's going away luncheon today. Great turnout, and a sweet time. I think she felt loved and blessed. We also had our monthly prayer vigil tonight, and it was wonderful, too. Angel does such a good job of being our pastor. Esther gave a teaching called "Life, Purpose and Destiny." It was excellent."
Now , back to me, Susan...Mandie Turner is back in Charleston after a 6 month time of service at LAMB. God used her in many ways there and in lots of children's lives. I know she is missed down there, but I am happy to have her back up here with us! Diana Collins and team from Vermont just left today from a construction trip at LAMB to go back home. I believe Diana has stayed on a few days.
Oh, just to let ya'll know, the folks in Barnwell are getting some extra funds together for Christmas for the daycare kids and friends in Roswell, GA , are planning to send some special Christmas goodies for the residential children.
I would ask your prayers for us on the home front here as well....we are definitely going through growing challenges. Please pray for wisdom, time, energy for all the different things that need to happen...thanks!
Lastly, as I mentioned in the last quarterly letter to donors, if any of you are in a prayer group, I would ask that you let me know . I would like to ask different prayer groups to pray for different aspects of the ministry.
May the Lord "enlighten the eyes" of all of our hearts that we might love Him more, live more simply and more focused on the things Jesus would have us do.
Much love in Jesus, Susan
ps Oh, I thought this quote from Amy Carmichael's Gold Cord, was amazingly appropriate for those of us here concerned with keeping the money going down to Teguc! Amy Carmichael was a missionary from Ireland who lived her whole life in India, founding the now very famous Dohnavur Fellowship, which continues her work to this day. She rescued many hundreds of children from from temple prostitution from the 1920's for some 30 years . This excerpt that she writes around 1925 really made me, who as Board Chair of LAMB, really really smile!
"Our friends at home were very kind. Sometimes they inquired though, through their Secretary on the field, what our plans were, and how much bigger we proposed to grow, and what our financial liabilities would be. But we could not tell them, for we ourselves did not know. WE could only assure them that those "financial liabilities " would never be theirs to meet, for that responsibility belonged to our Lord and Master, our Unseen Leader." Page 195, Gold Cord
posted by Lamb Institute | 12:59 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home