It's hard to believe another week has already slipped by.  It is Sunday evening here in Bangladesh and the sun is beginning to set.   Each sunset and sunrise is so beautiful.  The sun is always a reddish/orange color - very beautiful.  The area surrounding the orphanage consists of small villages and many many fields. The main crops here are rice, mustard and potatoes.  This area is considered "in the country".  We are thankful to be away from the larger cities with the poor air quality, increased filth and congestion.  The sounds we awaken to each morning are many varieties of birds singing and children's voices....many voices!   Throughout the night, the guard whistles periodically to the other side of the orphanage to another guard who then whistles back. In addition to the whistles,  the guard clangs a piece of metal to indicate the time every other hour through the night (not sure why this is necessary at night!).

This last week was filled with children, many many children!!!  Each morning at 8am we had a week of prayer program for the children.  They were always in their seats or on the mats waiting by 7:45!  We began with singing - wow, can these children sing.  They know so many songs, it took us a long time to think of something they hadn't already learned.  We did think of some scripture songs they didn't know, so we are learning our scripture memory by song this week.  The girls are taking turns telling a present-day story and then following that with a Bible story each day,  They are learning Bible verses, doing crafts and we are creating a paper chain each day as they make their committments to "be like Jesus."...this is our theme this week.  We've been encouraging the children to pray each night before bed and in the morning when they wake up.  It has been fun each morning to be greeted by a group of children letting each of us know they remembered to pray.  One evening while tucking in the little boys, one little 3 or 4 year old boy was kneeling in his crib, hands clasped tightly and eyes closed tight praying!  What  a joy it is to see these children learning to love Jesus. 

It has been especially fun for the children to see Mike playing with them.  The majority of the staff here are female, so to see a grown man playing hopscotch, jumprope and soccer has been a special delight for them.  Many of them call him Daddy! 

The stories behind most of these children are heart wrenching, many of them have had one or both parents die. One girl's mother was trying to bury her alive when neighbors rescued her, and another 5 year old girl was a servant girl - working from sun up til sundown for a family until her brother called and asked if they'd take her here at the orphanage.  She had a long adjustment period here because she had never experienced someone "giving her clothing", providing her with "three meals a day," and helping her comb her hair etc.  These children receive good care here, but they are starved for one on one attention, love and affection.  Early in the morning you can hear little voices outside our window calling "Lindsay, Stacey, Kelly!"  They are so anxious to have the girls come down and lavish them with attention.

This week we had the privilege of taking 11 women to town...4 cleaning ladies and 6 cooks.  We bought each of them an outfit (sari) and a pair of sandals and some ice cream.  These women are so very poor, and getting something new is quite rare for them. We all had such a nice time and each time we see them, they hug us and tell us thank you.

We especially like going to the evening worship time with the children.  They all arrive ready for bed in their feet pajamas - it is sooo very cute!  Often times one of the young boys 8 or 9 years of age will end up in a cute pair of "pink" pajamas or something covered with little hearts...but it doesn't matter to anyone - they are just happy!     Then we watch them lead song service and often times one of the young children will be the ones to interpret for the story.  All these children need people praying for them...that their hearts will be knit with Jesus, that they can see how much He loves each one.

Mike and I are giving a week of prayer program for the house mothers each evening.  The background of most of them is so very sad.  Most have had husbands leave them because they have not had male children or because they found another wife.  They are thankful for an opportunity to have a job and still be with their children.  **We will share many stories when we give our mission report after we return!

Last Sunday we went to the local Adventist school (a small orphanage and grades KG-12).  We were given a tour of the campus.  Each student sleeps on a bunk bed and has a small metal trunk under their bed with everything they own in it.  The classrooms contain a few postors and bench seats and a long board for a desk, and a chalk board....but with so very little, they are sooo happy!  We took 4 girls from the school to get school supplies.  We bought them each two outfits, shampoos and lotions, school books, sandals and a meal in town.  These girls don't have parents and one girl was deaf and dumb.  I'm certain they never stopped smiling the whole time and literally were plastered to the sides of our girls the whole time.   It was such a joy for my girls to see the other girls so very happy.

It has been interesting to see how at such a young age, the children recognize the importance of having a sponsor.  At the two Adventist schools and here at the orphanage, the children all have a sponsor to pays their way.  If the sponsor stops paying...they are asked to leave the school.  It is so very obvious to see how very appreciative these children are to have sponsors.  One night here at Bangla Hope, I was tucking the little boys in and telling them a story.  We were talking about heaven and one little 7 year old piped up and said "Aunty, in heaven the angels will be my sponsor!"   It was a privilege to share with them that in heaven they won't need a sponsor....Jesus already paid the price. 

Well I should close for now.  We have been borrowing the chaplain's computer stick and need to return it to him  tonight.  Hopefully we will have access to the internet in a couple of days and can post an update then.

Much love to everyone and thank you for your continued prayers.