Village Life #2 - Nilanthi

As we previously mentioned, there are two young girls in Samagama who are currently in the University. Pictured here with Donna is Nilanthi, an accounting student home for the month, before beginning her second year. During this month she has been taking an additional course in Galle four days a week.

When we first met Nilanthi, she and her brothers were studying in a small mud hut by candle light. Her father died when she was very young and her mother has worked very hard to give her the chance to get an education. Her mother recently was off work for a month due to an operation, so she told us she didn't have much money for food at school, so ended up skipping meals, in order to pay for her extra classes. It seems they all have to take additional classes outside the normal classroom setting.

During our time home we were able to find some additional monthly support for these two university girls, therefore when she returns she will have enough for her extra classes. She smiled and thanked us over and over for the monthly gift that will help these next two years. After she graduates she hopes to go abroad and find work to help support her brothers continue their education.

For her part in receiving this monthly stipend, she has agreed to give English lessons to the children of Samagama during her breaks while she is home. It is an inspiration to see her dedication to her school work and we look forward to seeing what God has in store for her in the years ahead. Thanks to many of you, this opportunity will be given to more children of Samagama in the years ahead!

Village Life! Chapter #1

It's so great to be back in Sri Lanka, although I will say that I greeted the Island differently, knowing now that it's my home! Yes Dottie, it is different! For me it's actually better. The pressure to "Get it done in 60 days", is off our shoulders. We are constantly reminding ourselves that we have time. No rushing around, no deadlines or imposed agendas! This is a good thing, because I think it will take until eternity to get internet and adequate phone service.

It's so strange to me that each time we come, everyone is so shy with us. I think we forget, just a bit, how we were with each other before we left. Coming to the village, we all, shyly reintroduce ourselves. There are small awkward glances and timid smiles. Small gifts of welcome are shoved into our hands; bananas, coconuts, packets of cookies, cucumbers, and rice. These gifts become our first meal and we are thankful!

At house #25, our new address, we had a family of uninvited guests living there when we arrived; of the fury four-legged rodent variety! Each night, David performs covert ops to battle the enemy forces! Of course the "ops" are performed with shoes tossed from the safety of our mosquito net covered bed! Surely we are safe under the protection of our mosquito net! He also has placed a delicious yum-yum treat for them in the kitchen and bathroom as well as a trap the size of your foot! Ah, village life!

I was amazed at the number of children that rushed to greet us that first day! My vanity had me believe that it was me that they had come to see, but I soon realized that with our arrival, the village library, housed in our spare bedroom was "now open for business"! The children checked out 31 books on the first day as pictured above! God is so good! We are grateful to be here.

Welome Walmart Shoppers!

When we arrived in Colombo we were surprised to see this nice brand new Arpico department store! Of course we had to stop and stock up on a few essentials for our new home in Samagama.

Donna especially enjoyed the food selections. We found many more choices here than we have in our area. We'll definitely make this one of our stops when we find a reason to be in Colombo. We are 4 hours away, so it's not like our neighborhood Walmart back home!

We are slowly getting adjusted to life in the village. Everyone greeted us with smiles and they were especially glad to hear we would be here for longer than a month or so. We are working on getting water to our home from the well. Hauling it is a bit hard for this old man!

We are cleaning the house from top to bottom and learning to cook again using our rice cooker and the propane cooker! We brought some recipes and I'm experimenting with new spices! So far we haven't gotten sick, but we have lost a few pounds!

From the weather reports it looks like we got out of Texas just in time! No need for coats here. Shorts, flip-flops, and tee shirts are the dress of preference today, tomorrow, and everyday! From the Island we wish you a blessed day!

Departure Date - January 25, 2011

As we prepare to depart today, Donna & I want to express to you, our deep appreciation and love for all of your acts of kindness, words of encouragement, blessings, and especially prayers. Many of you have helped us in so many ways over these past few months in making this transition in our life, and thinking back, your participation with us, is what has made this a joy and not a burden!

We are especially thankful to our hosts these past three weeks, Jay and Melissa McSpadden, who have opened their home to us and treated us as family. They are true servants of the King and their gift of hospitality has made our transition time seem effortless.

And now, we look forward to continuing with you, our journey to Sri Lanka, as we together serve the King of Kings! May His Name be praised in all the earth!

Nava Jeevana Vocational Training Center

Six years ago when we first visited this area there was much destruction and little hope in the eyes of the people effected by the tsunami. Their world was changed in a matter of minutes, and many lost everything, including family and friends. The world reached out, as did many of you, to bring relief in the form of medical aid, as well as meeting the immediate needs for food, clothing, and shelter.

Donna and I have observed over these past few years that there is also a long-term need to help many who are seeking a new and better life for themselves and their families. Without skills and training this is only a dream and virtually impossible.

Therefore, God has provided a way to open a vocational training center to teach and educate those who are looking for that opportunity to better themselves. We initially plan to offer English classes, computer training, sewing classes, and small mechanical and bicycle repair.

We were blessed to find this 12,000 square foot building, located on a main road, just two miles from Samagama. After renovations and a fresh coat of paint, Nava Jeevana, translated "New Life" is now awaiting our return. We look forward to finding local teachers to help begin this process of offering new life!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As we begin this new year, you can see God has blessed us with a "sold" home and all of our household goods! We closed on the 28th and are currently staying with our dear friends and neighbors, Jay & Melissa McSpadden for the next 25 days before our departure. We will take these next few short weeks to say our "good byes" to family and friends, before beginning our adventure with God in Sri Lanka!

Donna & I want to take this time to thank each you for partnering with us and being apart our our support group with your encouraging words, emails, and especially your prayers! We look forward to sharing with you the stories of God's blessings, as well as the struggles, during the upcoming years, as together we serve Him! We pray God's blessings over each of you and your family for 2011.

Return to Samagama

We have had a wonderful visit here in Texas and the southeast US over the past seven months. A lot has happened since our last trip to Samagama last March. Some of you might not be aware of our decision to return to Samagama on a more permanent basis. We have felt God's calling for several years now, but it is now obvious this is where God wants us to be. So we have been preparing for the past several months with all the arrangements that must be put in place to make this move possible. We tentatively have a departure date in late January 2011. Upon our return, we will continue our work with the villagers; Donna teaching English to the children and interested adults, and I will work on getting the Vocational Training Center up and operational. We will keep you updated over the course of the next several weeks as we make this transition. We are excited about this next step and we appreciate your support and prayers.