I’m trusting that you had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends.  With 15 children in the area (plus one in Africa and one with Jesus), my days have been pretty full.  I feel incredibly blessed to have such wonderful kids come and invade me, eat all my cookies, and leave me a mess.  I’m just kidding…. I am very blessed.  But during this busy time, I find that I need to spend extra time in quiet, reading God’s Word and focusing on Him.  It’s also the second anniversary of my husband’s death – a time filled with memories.  I’ve been impressed that over the last two years the Lord is reshaping my life.   I complain at times, whine and cry as I’m stretched, but I trust Him with all that I am.  His love is so beyond my understanding.   I find I have a sense of gratitude that I’ve never really known before.  And part of that is my gratitude for all of you.  A dream was planted in my heart long ago and now I’m beginning to see fruit.  I can’t tell you what a blessing that is not only to me, but also to the children in Haiti.

Haiti is a country of mountains and more mountains.  Kawo is a ten hour walk (hike) up into these mountains.  I haven’t been up there yet, but several of my older kids and some team members have.  It’s beautiful and we have great pictures.  We reach out to the very rural and extremely poor mountain folks by helping their kids go to school.  We are wanting desperately to buy metal roofing for them so that they can continue to meet in their little pole building for both church and school.  We would love your help.

We are planning on taking another team down in March.  We want to have enough funds to be able to buy and have building supplies in Nawo when we arrive.  We would then be able to partner with the people and begin the building of their church and school.

John Peter, a little boy who is sponsored, had an accident while playing with palm fronds and damaged his eyes.  He is able to have surgery because his sponsor has sent the money for the doctors.  Otherwise it wouldn’t be a possibility for him.  His mama cried when she was told he could have that surgery.  Please pray for him this month that all goes well and the doctors are able to correct the problem with his eyes.

I believe this is only the beginning and pray each day that the Lord will go before us to touch these children’s lives.  This is the working out of our faith in the Maker of heaven and earth.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”  Rom. 12:1

May you be blessed as you have blessed the children.

Dixie