To say that it has been a stressful few weeks is a major understatement! We’ve had two medical evacuations for kids (6 surgeries for Denilson), one more planned for Monday, received 5 new kids from Social Services, started second semester at school being 5 teachers short (which meant teaching 11 classes in 6 class periods), received three new volunteers (and three more arriving next week, praise the Lord!), gone through more antibiotics than I can count thanks to throat infections that hit the kids hard, resolving issues with the district of education, two court cases involving two of our students and everything else that goes hand in hand with living with and raising 71 kids. Last week was extremely difficult, as I spoke with 9 kids that admitted, for the very first time, that they have been sexually abused and raped (boys and girls, ages 5-14). Hearing them share these very horrific details and watching their tears roll down their trembling faces was almost more than I could bare. Two admitted to wanting to kill themselves because they are tired of the guilt, pain, shame they feel. I’ve probably cried more these past two weeks than I have in a long time. It pains me like nothing else to see children suffer, especially when there isn’t much I can do to relieve their pain. I’ve probably felt the most discouraged I’ve felt in years as well during these last weeks, with everything going on. It’s been a bit overwhelming and I’ve had to ask myself some hard questions…Am I handling things the right way? Are these precious children seeing Christ reflected in everything I do and say? Am I really making any difference? I feel so unqualified, so helpless and feel that surely there must be someone else that could better handle all of these situations. Am I where I am supposed to be? These may seem like simple questions on the surface, but I assure you, I have struggled with them lately. On more than one occasion, I have been ready to run as fast as possible in the opposite direction of Bolivia. But in every moment of doubt and uncertainty, God has showed me His love and Presence. And while there are many tough days, days where I feel that I cannot take one step further, to have one of these precious children come up and give me a hug and tell me that they love me…it just makes everything worth it! I am so thankful for such a wonderful and caring group of staff that is willing to be on call 24/7 and give all they have to give to the work! They make life so much easier and I am truly blessed to call them friends…no, family! I am grateful for such wonderful children, who have every reason of being resentful, hateful, cold and distrustful…yet everyday they show more love, compassion, patience and trust than I can fathom. They truly show God’s love in ways that others cannot. I am so appreciative for the encouragement and financial support of so many, most of whom I have never met! You just don’t understand how much it means to us and how many times God has used you to work a miracle on our behalf and strengthen our faith! I praise God for His unending and unfailing love and for always providing exactly what we need, physically, emotionally and spiritually! Please continue to lift us up in prayer. We need it more than you can imagine. Pray for these kids, especially those that have come forward regarding their abuse. It’s never easy. They have a long road of recovery ahead of them, and there will be very difficult days. Pray for healing and peace. And please pray for us staff as well, that God will use us, as unfitted, unqualified and unexperienced as we are, to minister to the needs of these that He has entrusted us with. We need wisdom that only He can give! THANK YOU all for all that you have done and are doing for us! Words cannot adequately express how appreciative I am! May the Lord bless you as only He can!