Children in China are only required to finish schooling up to age 14. The privileged (rarely in rural areas) or the hard working or the blessed get a chance to move forward into higher education. Many times, this is the only way to end the vicious cycle of rural poverty. Li Er Mei is smart, personable, caring, artistic, and full of potential. However, my heart has been breaking for her recently. She is one of the few rural children that get to go to high school (on a scholarship no less), yet she opted to work instead [in a factory, I believe] to make a little money. This is too common…short term gains in exchange for a life of endless possibilities. I just want to shake her, to yell at her, to hug her, to cry with her, to encourage her.

I said to my fiancee the other day that I feel like such a failure, and feel so useless. I go back as much as I can, but I still don’t feel like I made any impact in her life (and she was one of the few that I interacted with the most and one of the few I remained in constant email contact with). But then I was reminded…God is in control, He is the almighty, He is the capable…and that I am a mere cracked and broken jar of clay. I’m praying for her…will you please join me?

Looking up with great anticipation,
Dan

I am so impatient. I find that I am rushing, rushing all day long. Part of it comes from necessity. I am, after all, an ER doctor. I often have to remind myself to slow down…and listen. What is God saying to me right this moment, in this one encounter, with this specific person? I think it is much easier to love people in “concept” than it is to love people in “reality.” It’s much easier for me to “pray for people,” donate money, or get involved in projects. When God moves on my heart, though, and asks for ME…and I ready and willing to roll up my sleeves and get involved in the messy work that is loving people? Only through His strength and by His love and example. I’m definitely a work in progress…

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. Mark 12: 30-31

-Catherine

I had a chance to visit an orphanage in Cuzco, Peru last month. God continues to AMAZE me, opening my mind up to what He is doing around this world, in places I would never have imagined. This orphanage is in a very rural area of Peru. Many local as well as international (from the United States) visitors are amazed by how successful this orphanage is. It was so apparent to me why they are successful…because they have Jesus as their foundation. The orphanage staff raise the children with the love of Christ, this orphanage is bound to be successful! His love never fails. Never. We often think how unfair life is to less fortunate people around the world. But He provides! He is a provider for me, for you, for those orphans in Cuzco, Peru.

- Al