It is hard t
o believe that it is already December! This has been a year of many changes and we are thankful for your prayers to help us get through them.
I find it much easier to relate to the birth of our Lord in this part of the world since the events took place north of us and I have babies in my home. To imagine Mary’s travels, pregnant, and on a donkey for miles and miles to give birth in a dirty barn with animals and no other option than to place her newborn child in a manger with dusty dirty hay. I grumble at times because my house is not what I would like it to be! The question we keep getting asked is how we like our new home and if we are settled. There is good and bad here as in anywhere. Repairs are still needed and we are waiting for the addition so we can be more organized and accommodate more comfortable bedroom space for the children.
The upside is that we are still meeting new people who are coming on board to help us in numerous ways—we are so grateful to the Lord for that. We have a wonderful lady who has counseled the children free of charge; an accountant who has done our yearly audits for us, has agreed to do our bookkeeping; a young Scottish Dr who comes out and offers her services for free and her husband comes with to play with the children and help in anyway he can.
Also, we recently had a visit from a couple from Kansas. This couple, their church and friends have come on bo
ard to support us. He has a brother whom we have met and lives near us. Through all this, we have received special medical care, a repaired roof, snacks, extra hands to help with the children and funds. We have been blessed! We now have 16 children with three- 5 year old girls who start school in January—they are already asking every day if and when they are going to school! We also have a 4 year old boy, a 3 year old girl, three—2 year olds, five—1 year girls, an 8 month old boy, a 5 month old boy, and a 3 month old girl.
Merry Christmas!
Marv and Marie Bjorklund
Place of Hope Africa