Once Again!

Once again, the Lord has opened the door for us to go to Bangladesh to the Bangla Hope orphanage! We are very excited! 
We will be leaving on January 21, from Portland, to San Francisco, to Singapore, to Dhaka! We will be there for a month, and arrive back on February 20.

While there, we have been asked to go back down to the southern part of Bangladesh to some of the village schools to do a Vacation Bible School program for them. We will also do something similar at the orphanage, using the Truth 4 Youth program by the Young Disciples Ministries.

We are very excited to go! Please continue to pray for us as we reach children for Christ!

Hard to believe we are back at home already.  It seems like just moments ago we were just getting to Bangladesh - how quickly time passes.  We spent our last week at the orphanage, taking children to town, helping with a branch Sabbath School, organizing the library, spending time with the children, sharing music at the church service, provided support for computer and office applications and.......enjoying the children!!!   We said a tearful goodbye (after the girls spent alot of time trying to devise ways to stay longer) and we headed to Dhaka for a day and a half before heading home. 

Before we left many children and staff asked us...."when will we see you again?"  What a sobering thought to think we may never see them again until heaven.   Although we don't know what the Lord's plans are for our family in the years ahead, we have asked the Lord to clearly open the doors if it is His will for us to return someday to Bangladesh. 

We are most grateful to everyone for their many prayers while we were away.  As we read emails and hear stories at this end of all the prayers that were ascending on our behalf - especially during our difficult time with the government officials, we are certain the angels were traveling with us and  our faith is strengthened as we see His protection, travel mercies, intervening and miracles along the way.

We will be sharing our experiences and pictures at Whipple Creek Seventh-day Adventist Church, 302 NW 179th Street, Ridgefield, WA on Sabbath Evening, March 10th @5:30pm. 

With hearts of gratitude ~~The Philpott Family 

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.

We have been doing well! As I sit here updating the blog, there are sounds of happy children playing. From morning till night that is what we hear! Last two days, we have been helping organize the library for the orphanage. It was a big job, but it is looking nice in there. Now for the few finishing touches!

On Tuesday, we three girls hopped into the back of a pick-up truck and went to the village of Joypurhut, about ten miles down the road (yes, it is ok in this country to ride in the back of a pickup truck!). It was very fun, but we got quite dusty!

We went to a seminary and picked up four girls, one of whom was deaf and dumb. They were sweet girls! We took them shopping so they could get some things that they need, such as clothes and shoes. It was very fun and rewarding. We hope to see them again someday!

Tommorow and Friday we will be finishing the Week of Prayer. It has been going very well, and the kids are enjoying it. We three girls were taught the Bangla words to "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" (our theme song). It has been very fun.

Ta-ta for now! (ta-ta means goodbye in Bangla)

Hello Again,

We are safe and sound at Bangla Hope tonight (Friday evening, Jan. 27th).  We are thankful to everyone for your prayers these last 24 hours.  Our angels were by our sides and we saw many miracles on our behalf.  On Thursday morning we headed out early in the morning for Mali Kali where we put on a VBS program for the school there.  When finished there, we headed out to another school to meet with several families who asked BanglaHope to take their children.   After completing the necessary paperwork and interviews, we headed out with 3 babies.   Along the way we coordinated a meeting with another family who also wanted their baby taken to the orphanage.   Unfortunately this meeting took place in an area that attracted public attention.  A number of people nearby saw us taking the baby, along with the other children in the vehicle.  This raised alot of suspicion.   After we left and had traveled a ways down the road, we got a call that the teacher who had brought the family to meet us was being detained by government officials for questioning.  The teacher asked us to come back and help.   We turned around and headed back to the government building.  Already an angry mob was forming and we were forced to get out of the vehicle and go into the administators office.  We spent the next 6 hours in an office with the children, government officials, journalists and many bystanders. There was alot of tension during this time and this is when we sent out the email requesting friends and family to pray.  The families of the chidlren arrived over the next few hours and were questioned.  They affirmed that they wanted their children to go to Bangla Hope, but the officials decided to nullify the agreements and returned the children to the parents.  We were given a police escort out of town around 9:30pm and returned to KMMS (an Adventist boarding school we were staying at).  We left early the next morning and arrived safely at Bangla Hope Friday evening.  We received a warm welcome by the orphanage staff and children upon our return.  It is good to be back.

The first part of the week was absolutely wonderful.  We went to one school in the morning and did a VBS program for the children.  As soon as we would arrive, word spread and villagers started pouring in.  After we told a Bible story, we did a craft  that involved coloring.  The children had never colored before, so they had to be shown what to do.  Even Grandma's who came by wanted to color.  Before we left, they fed us a meal  and then we headed out to another school and repeated the program there.  The children really liked the stories and we would hear them singing the theme song "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus" after the program was over!!!  

We landed in Dhaka on Tues. the 17th around 10am, and stood in a mob with hundreds of people waiting to go through immigration.  There were no lines, no organization nor order, so we simply pushed our way forward inch by inch with everyone else.  After three hours, we made it to the immigration desk.  The airport conditions are deplorable.  Filthy, runned down, tarps hanging here and there for walls....unbelievable.   

We met our driver and then waited for a second vehicle to arrive to load on our 25 pieces of luggage, plus the luggage of two students we picked up along the way.  When traveling through Dhaka to our accommodations (a local dental office) we found the driving to be horrendous....and terrifying.  No signs, no speed limits, no order, just drive in any lane, on the shoulders or anything to get around other drivers.  We were so close to the other vehicles that we were literally inches away.  (We are certain the angels which excel in strength were traveling with us!)  All vehicles we saw were dented, scraped and battered (including our vehicle) because it is common place to "brush" up against other vehicles on the road.   

We walked around the city with our guide to exchange our money and get a bite to eat.  The people were very friendly and especially intrigued to see white-skinned people.  They stopped whatever they were doing to stare and sometimes follow us around. 

The filth of the city is indescribable.  In our travels around Dhaka and then the 8 hour trip to the northern part of the country, we've seen nothing but poor, poor people and incredible filth.  

During our first night in Dhaka, Mike became sick.  We are not sure of the source of his illness, but are grateful he is beginning to feel better and today (Thurs.) has started to eat a little.

We begin each day with a bucket shower and have been introduced to squat pots (yuck!).  We stopped at a gas station on the way to Bangla Hope, to find a bathroom.  Their bathroom accommodations were squat pots with no walls or doors surrounding it.     

We arrived at Bangla Hope Wed. afternoon around 2pm.  What a beautiful place this is.  The grounds are lovely, the staff warm and friendly (they make you feel like a celebrity) and the children....they've won our hearts already.  The girls are constantly swarmed by the little orphans!  They love to be held and cuddled, hold your hand or hang onto any piece of clothing they can, just to be near you.  There is a constant crowd wherever you go.  

We've enjoyed the worships, meals, bedtime routines and lots of playtime with the children.  This month is going to fly by. 

Today (Thurs.) we spent the morning unloading bags and getting everything we brought organized.  What a huge job! Around noon we headed to the nearby town of Healey.  We rode in a "putt-putt" into the local village of "Healey."  A "putt-putt" is a bicycle with a small motor and a wagon attached.  The girls were able to select fabric for salwar kameezes.   

On Friday our family will be preparing for Vacation Bible School and preparing a program for the church service on Sabbath.   Sunday morning very early we will leave on a road trip to the southern part  of Bangladesh.  It will be about a 10 hour trip.  We'll be doing a VBS program at two village school during the week, then will pick up 2 babies and bring them back to the orphanage.

We just got internet access tonight, so will post updates as often as we are able. 

We have finally made it to Dubai!! It was a very long flight! It is Tuesday, January 17, 3:15 in the morning, and we are waiting for our flight to Dhaka, which leaves at 3:45 am. We are almost there--just four more hours! Once we get to Dhaka, we will have a driver pick us up and we will start the 8  hour drive  to the orphanage.


The network here is slow, so once we get to the orphanage, hopefully we'll be able to post some pictures.