The Return

BACK AGAIN
It is quite a thing to be on the far side of the planet and find things familiar, even people and places we've known before.

For half of our team, Sri Lanka is a place we've been to before. Now the shiny-penny newness of an exotic location, the unusual souvenirs, and trying unique new experiences are being replaced with the chance to go deeper with the relationships we've been blessed to start on previous trips.

MOVING AHEAD
Two years ago there was nothing but a run down house and an overgrown yard at this property.
Now, through the help of faithful partners, the grace of God, a little diligence, and a
few golfers raising pledges, the Cherith Children's Home has a polished up house, a new playground and a new Educational Center that will bless the larger community with conversational English classes, economic development projects and a place to meet.
You can see that the playground we built last time is getting good use too.

MEET THE KIDS
Five children now call the House of Hope their home. Joshua, Pradeep, and Dilani are three of the kids who's parents are gone or unable to care for them.
Now they have a stable home environment, enough food, access to a better education, and bright opportunities for the future. (All this and good looks too).
More children are on their way. It will be a joy to watch them grow up here until they can care for themselves.

GETTING TO IT...
Our teammates get to help with the work on our trips and get built themselves in new ways too. What better way to become a humbled servant than to be away from the familiar and needing to rely on others to know what to do.
One of our jobs this week is to help pour the floor and build the gate at the new Education Center. Digging heavy clay and hard "booka" with picks and hoes is a time-consuming, muscle-aching, old-school way to work but an excellent way to meet new friends like Raj and Pastor Kumar.

BUILDING THE INSIDE TOO
Our personal times in the morning, before going to work, were devoted to learning how to live the life of an ambassador.
1 Peter tells us that we are "...ones choosen by God, choosen for the high calling...God's instruments to do His work and speak out for Him."
Some of our teammates are leaving with a new desire to know more about this calling and to become even better at speaking out for God with words and actions back home.

MEETING OLD FRIENDS
"I have wandered all my life, I have also traveled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment." -Belloc

Our travels to Sri Lanka have poured a large measure of fulfillment into our hearts and minds as we see the grace of God and the language of His Spirit in the smiles of our friends.
We know of no better proof of the reality of God's Kingdom in the world than when we see it in the life of His church that is the same wherever we go.

SUNDAY MORNING
Since we are working with God, of course we go to church on Sunday.
The service is said in three languages. First the speaker shares a few sentences then two translators resay it in Tamil and Singhelese. It's a great opportunity for our teammates to connect to the larger congregation (many of whom remember us and welcome us back warmly)
Singing is no problem either. We recognize the tunes and can sing along in English. Many diverse voices joined together. A picture of Heaven?

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.

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.

YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
Through your help, MissionGuides is able to fund many initiatives for our ministry partners like building churches, schools, and playgrounds. Our supporters have 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 and our work there puts us in close contact with people of many faiths. 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.