Visitors!!

At the beginning of the month we began keeping a lot of all the visitors who have visited our home each day. About mid-month we were over 100 adults and conservatively counting 100 children per week. We estimate between 500 to 600 came through our door. Some of these visits last only a few minutes, while others who speak some English may last an hour or more. We see these times as opportunities for God to make divine connections... each touch, each smile, each squeeze of the hand, each cup of tea shared, is given with a silent prayer that God will open the eyes and and hearts of those receiving.

Samagama Garden

Due to the recent flooding in Sri Lanka that destroyed a substantial portion of the agricultural crops that that help feed the 20 million plus living on the island, the President issued a statement encouraging everyone in the non-affected areas to plant home gardens. Out of necessity, many are having to turn to growing their own food, as prices in the marketplace are increasing almost daily. To give you some perspective, one coconut(hand grinding pictured above) that is used daily in the typical Sri Lankan diet, last year cost $.25. Today it cost $.50 and as high as $.70 in some areas. The price for rice, beans, and other vegetables have also doubled. This has had a tremendous impact on the poor, and we have seen the needs here in Samagama. Several families have come to us over the last month and explained their dire circumstances.... no food to feed their children. We continue to buy more food than we need, so we are able to share with those who are in need.

We brought seeds with us this trip so we could plant our own garden (seedlings pictured above), and we've had much needed help from the villagers (helping build fence). Our garden has become a gathering place for the curious and it has prompted some to begin their own plots. We are slowly learning the fine art of gardening here in this tropical climate. They are teaching us their ways of mulching, what grows best where in the garden, spacing, organic fertilizing (water buffalo dung gathered fresh each morning), and other valuable tried and true methods that will help produce a healthy crop.

Our garden is becoming much more than just a vegetable garden! It has become an opportunity for us to share our lives with our neighbors. One day Donna was hot and sweaty with mud caked hands and feet, when the fifth family of the day came for a visit, interrupting her gardening efforts. Seeing her frustration with yet another interruption, the Spirit spoke to my heart, "Donna don't fret, Samagama is our garden", and immediately she also understood, we were sent here to plant, tend, and water the lives of our neighbors! Pray for the harvest!

Eyes to See

This week we had several of our "older" friends visit our home. While they were looking at the village photo album, we noticed they were squinting at the pictures. After a few minutes, we remembered the reading glasses that we had purchased for $1 a pair before we came this trip. We let them try on the strength that worked it was like the lightbulb had been turned on. They immediately recognized people and events and smiles replaced frowns! May they all have eyes to see the real giver of sight!

Montessori Teachers

The Montessori School at Samagama is now in it's fourth year of operation and continues to give the pre-school students of the village an opportunity to get valuable instruction before entering grade school. The teachers for the school, Naomi and Priyanthi, pictured here are accredited Montessori instructors. They also attend church with us and teach in the church Sunday school program. Donna helps teach English four days a week at the school and reports that they are eager to learn and are picking it up quickly. They are learning English much faster than we are learning Singela!

We are seeing first hand the impact of the teaching these children are receiving from several who were in the first class four years ago, and are now in Donna's class in our house. Their parents seem to always bring their children with them to our house for translation, when they need to ask or tell us something. Thanks to the support of several of you, these teachers are able to continue to bring a valuable service for the next generation. Naomi and Pryanthi ask that we convey their appreciation to you and especially thank you for your prayers.

Village Life #3- Living Water

We looked at the calendar this week and noticed we have been here a month now. Time has a way of slipping by and sometimes we need time to reflect on what has been accomplished and what still needs our attention. One of the major accomplishments this month has been getting running water to our house.

In my youth I remember visiting my grandparents farm in north Alabama and having to haul water from the well every day. Of course being young that was an adventure, like camping, that I could enjoy for a few days before returning to the city and turning on the tap for my daily needs. Fast forward 50 years and I found myself, hauling water again for my daily needs. Only this time it's not quiet the adventure I remember, but very hard work that becomes a necessity for life!

Seeing how much time is required just to provide water for your daily needs makes me now appreciate running water all the more. As you can see, we were able to hire Indika and Saman from the village to dig our water line from the house to the well and install a small one horse-power pump. Water is pumped to a 500 liter holding tank on our roof and one tank last approximately 3 days. We must boil the water for drinking and cooking, but just seeing it come out of the tap is a blessing I won't take for granted again! I don't even mind the cold showers, as long as I don't have to dump the bucket over my head!!

Having running water gives us the energy we need to provide the "living water" to those who are also in need!

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.