The Barnabas Foundation...

I am glad to hear the medical team arrived home, albeit late. Flight delays are no fun!  Today was a day for me to catch up on the churches and folks I hadn't seen during the medical clinics. we had a good morning in Villa de Yaque, our leaders were very enthused with the experience on Friday at La Canela. We had a special prayer for that community and for Franklin, our contact person there. One of our other leaders shared that he and many others in Villa are experiencing spiritual warfare- bad dreams, sicknesses, etc. We talked about God being stronger than any other spirit, and prayed specifically for healing and for these spirits to leave that area. Villa de Yaque has a LOT of drug use, a lot of idol worship and just your regular run of the mill corruption; it is a community that desperately needs a revival!

From there, Victor and I went to Guayacanal to give some food and mattresses we had received from the Civil Defense. One of our ladies lives in a critical situation- the kids are rarely bathed, she cooks outside, etc. I have become too accustomed to poverty but this case is worse than what I normally see. I hadn't been able to get this help to her during the medical clinics and thought it was strange I hadn't seen her Thursday when we were there. Today we found the house locked and found out from neighbors that her husband had nearly beat her to death this past week- I think Thursday- the same day we were there! Her mother somehow found out and came and took her home with her. We found out where they were and went to visit today. It turns out he kept her basically imprisoned in the house for several days and wouldn't let her leave with the kids. Finally when her mother came, she was able to get out with two of the five children. The little boy had been beaten badly, and over a long period of time. We don't know where the other three children are. It just kills me to think of what is happening with them- they were in terrible shape when they were with their mother, I can only imagine now! I don't like to offer financial help without consulting with my leaders as to the best way to actually help, so after we left her (at her mother's) Victor said he would follow up with her this week. First priority is to seek help from the Protection of Mother and Children agency and to find those children! And then secondly, to get her to a doctor for follow-up care.  She looked okay but she had obviously been beaten pretty bad.  Pray for Victor as he works with her and her family and pray for these little children who have suffered so much.  Natividad said she had been to church in her mother's community (it is an urban poor barrio too but has several evangelical churches present.) I doubt she will ever move back to Guayacanal but we will continue to pray for her and help her through this crisis.

That whole experience was draining, but we pressed on for the worship service in The Hole- it was a great day with them, after we cleaned the river mud out of the church.  They have had to do that so much lately that they were making plans to build a wall to keep the water/mud from coming in- can't blame them! What an awful chore!

Then finally I went to see Sol's finished furniture. She has completed her class on how to cover furniture (the english word escapes me).  Her work was VERY impressive.  I was pleased for her and hopefully she can begin to get some clients and get her business off the ground. 

I had intended to go back to Los Santos for worship even though another man is preaching tonight but I was jsut exhausted so I walked the dog, took a shower and am doing a little office work in preparation for our annual meeting this week. Tomorrow I will be doing some shopping and errands getting ready for the NEXT Cool Spring team which arrives June 30, just three days after I get back from my meeting.  I have learned to get as much done while I can because you never know what may happen!  Please pray for the youth team as they make their final preparations for their ministry here and for us here as we prepare!