DEDICATION DAY

Though there is still work to do to put the final touch on the Educational Center, the day finally arrived to dedicate the building and open it up to the community.

Local government people, teachers, clergy and friends were all in attendance and left with a sense of excitement and expectation.

The "hardware" part of the Children's Home is coming to an end. Now we must focus on the "software" side of things and invest in building people.

The Education Center will be a place to do just that. Many underserved people will come for help and a leg up.

CULTURE!

Kandyan dancers were one of the more colorful highlights of the week. They joined us for the building dedication and will use the Education Center as a practice site in the months ahead.

Maybe next time we can teach them to polka?

LASTING IMPRESSIONS

Many people are associated with the Children's Home: cooks, builders, drivers, caretakers, and maintenance people. Some are Muslim, some Buddhist and some Hindu. That's typical of the evironment in Sri Lanka where many faiths are lumped together.

What's exciting about this is that the Gospel can have regular, close contact with all of these people. The result is that the real-world example of the Kingdom-in-action is making an impact.

Our cook is now a Christian, a local Muslim is bringing her friends to the home so the Christian staff can pray for them and several Buddhist people come to the home just to meet us.

LASTING IMPRESSIONS II

The last day of the basketball camp was spent with a multi-school tournament complete with certificates, cheering, school pride and trophies. All that was needed was a pep band.

What was started at this camp will continue with another sports program in the summer and the formation of a regular basketball team at a local school.

What has started as a desire to help orphaned kids has turned into a community-wide work-in-progress.

ALWAYS MORE OPPORTUNITY

"Baby" is a woman we met on the streets of Kandy. She is dirty, homeless, incoherent, uncomfortable to be around...and someone's little girl.

People like Baby are jolting reminders that there is still much work to be done in our world with countless opportunities to put our faith into action.

YOUR REPRESENTATIVE

MissionGuides is more than just teaching and trips. Through your help, we are able to fund many initiatives for our ministry partners.

In the past, you have funded the building of churches, schools, and playgrounds. You've even provided scholarships for teammates on four different continents!

This week we were able to give money raised at our Golf Outing for the purchase of more land at the Cherith Children's Home. More space means more opportunities to help people in Sri Lanka.

We are happy to be your representative while serving the underpriviledged around the world.

PETER PRINCIPLES

"Live such good lives among the "natives" that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good works and praise God on the day He visits us." -1 Peter 2:12

Sri Lanka is a land FILLED with people searching for God. Our work there puts us in close contact with many people of many faiths giving us many opportunities to share what He has done for us.

The examples of openness, respect for others, and the freedom to share our faith in an open-handed way are the real souvenir that all of us have brought back with us.

We look forward to showing them to our friends, families, and hometowns.

INTERESTED IN JOINING A TEAM?

To capitalize on the success of our sports program, Cherith is expanding it to include VOLLEYBALL, SOCCER, and more BASKETBALL in AUGUST of 2009.

We are also preparing a PASTOR'S WIVES RETREAT. Many pastor's wives are VERY busy and have very little opportunity to rest, reflect, or address regular "life issues". Cherith has seen a need to help these women who serve and wish to tap into the resources we have in the USA to shore them up.

If you feel a desire to help with any of these projects, please contact us at MissionGuides@new.rr.com