moises & kristina's blog: 2012

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Lance McWilliams

Hi!

It has been 2 months since we last updated this blog. A lot of things have been happening since, as Moises starts his first year of Bible school in Council Bluffs, IA this fall. The program he is enrolled in is called the International Bible Training Center (IBTC), sponsored by Deaf Missions. We have also kept ourselves busy over the summer with church, sports, family, friends, and our dogs.

After we returned from Africa, Moises set a goal to establish a local youth ministry with teenagers. We both loved working with orphans at LDO, so wanted to continue locally. American children do need God as much as African children. Once a student of IBTC, Moises had to think more about his future ministry more seriously. We are in the process of collaborating our efforts to establish a youth ministry, partnering with our church, Christ’s Church of the Deaf (CCD). Our first event will welcome all students from 6^th to 12^th grades, and will involve laser tag, pizza, drinks, and fellowship! This is going to take place on September 22^nd, and we are definitely looking forward to kicking off our youth ministry under CCD!

The weekend before last weekend, we got the opportunity to meet Lance, the founder of LDO! It was an awesome experience to meet him in person; he is a great man with a big heart for the Lord and orphans. He has made an impact on our lives by allowing us to become involved with LDO last year. We thank God for him. He also gave a sermon to CCD that Sunday, and it was a beautiful one. He focused on how we should help others (especially orphans).

Lance with the ODO team sans Kat

We have discussed with each other here and there, and we still do feel a burden to return to LDO. We have created special bonds with all the orphans and we want to be great role models. We do not want this to be a one-time event (attend LDO one summer), but to serve them on a regular basis (every summer). We have committed to giving $40 each month to LDO. This will be used to get more and a variety of food, as well as other expenses they may have. We realize that all of these orphans DO NOT HAVE parents like the most of us do. We would like to be “parents” by financially supporting them as well as spending time with them. We love our God as we want to follow his command for us to serve all the nations. James 1:27.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about our goals for LDO, or if/how you want to get involved!

Thank you,

“Lord, My God, I will praise you forever.” Psalm 30:12(A)

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Tour of LDO

Hello!

We would like to share a video of what LDO looks. If you have some time to sit back, I hope you enjoy the video!

God bless.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Wrapping up...

Hello Readers,

We are back in the United States now, despite missing the orphans and LDO. It was a surreal experience for Moises and I. It being our first time our of the country, it was a great & extreme place to go.

The weather was different since we were closer to the equator, the sun is so much closer and it really did burn our skins quickly, even though it wasn't that hot. The nights are SOO cold. Respecting their culture, I wore long skirts and t-shirts, rather than shorts and tanktops. During the nights, we bundle up in sweats and blankets!

The children there are very wonderful & such sweethearts. They are very strong physically and good listeners (most of the time!). They are very well disciplined too, and we feel that is from them having to learn how to survive at a such young age. They do a lot of physical duties, and I can't even imagine children doing that here. We have 6 year olds who will carry a water jug (probably 4 gallons) down to the river, which is probably 1/2 a mile walk down a trail, fill up the water jugs, and carry it back up to LDO on their heads. They will do this a few times consecutively a day, sometimes two times a day - mornings and afternoons. Overall, the children there are very open emotionally and very loving. They will give you the "I love you" sign right at the first day!

We felt this month was a very productive one. We tilled a new garden, built 6 new benches, built a new cooking table/bench, bought a new water tank, installed faucets on both tanks, built new gutters on both buildings, and started a new rabbit coop. There are MANY things that LDO needs in order to improve the conditions and to meet requirements to satisfy Moraa, the woman who is in charge of inspecting/approving the orphanage. We were told that, among some of the many things, LDO need to relocate their bathrooms, install a front gate, build a more secure fence around the orphanage, and so forth. All these conditions will hopefully be met with more donations by wonderful people like you all. We hope to return next year with MORE money. LDO needs money not to only improve the conditions of the orphanage itself, but to help improve the lives of the orphans. They are in constant need of clothing, shoes, school supplies, and etcetera.

Chances are we will return to LDO again next year! :) Because we told the orphans we would see them again!

Here are much more pictures for you all to enjoy. We would like to take a moment and really thank all those who helped us financially for this successful mission trip and those who had us/ODO team in their thoughts and prayers. This would of have not been possible without your support!

God bless you all.

Felix working

Hanging out

Kevin and Erick

Hanging out

They don't seem to really like cereal!

Killer versus Praying mantis

Enroute to soccer

Soccer

True Kenyan kids always have a machete in their hands!

Soccer

Giving Mary's children new shoes

The kids love Four Squares!

Cooking

Dallas & Moises

Spaghetti dinner - received many good reviews from the kids!

Church

Church skit

Explaining an activity

Playing an activity

Explaining the results

Explaining another activity - sun painting

Sun painting

The boys loved this!

Building a new rabbit coop

Having some fun

Hanging out

A great bond there!

Couldn't for the lives of us get Sarah to give a nice face!

Goat for dinner, anyone?

Teaching animal words/signs.

Japheth being his usual self

Let's have fun with paint!

All out with paint!

Crazy kids

Dancing

Hanging out while they were having breakfast.

Wanted to have fun with my hair... This lasted for a week.

Final ODO team picture before we departed!

Moises with the siblings: Mike, Kevin, & Pauline

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

More pictures...

As our time is nearing the end of our month-long stay at LDO, we would like to share many more pictures with you all! I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.