Tonight’s post will be short as we are departing downtown early to get back to our meeting room for a birthday celebration for two of our Girlfriends – Michelle and Shondrah! Happy Birthday! The final day of VBS for us was tremendous. Leaving the children was hard as we have daily welcomed their smiles and hugs. The impact that VBS had on the children of San Mateo was significant. Truly we cannot discount the significance of seemingly insignificant things. Being Jesus with skin on for these children has truly been a blessing. The work was hard but the rewards were great. For today we end with a poignant picture from VBS and one of the entire group. The last picture is of Holy Cross School as we departed today. More pictures will be posted in the next few days.

Our third day of VBS in San Mateo and the crowd has tripled. Today’s post will let you see the faces we have the incredible opportunity to minister to through VBS…such beautiful little ones. They steal your heart and just as you would desire for your own children – you want nothing but the best for them. And as you can tell by the smiles on their faces, it appears that they have nothing but the best. But today’s schedule took us on a tour of San Mateo (Holy Cross School’s community). I wish the pictures could show you what we saw….but a picture is limited to that which the camera captures. Your sense of smell and touch are not engaged by a picture. But the 15 minute tour through San Mateo captured our senses and we were overwhelmed by the living conditions of the children we are ministering to. Maybe we can be a small part  and make a difference by helping Holy Cross offer these children a chance for the “best.”

Enjoy the pictures of our group of Girlfriends as we begin our day (looking cool on the beach) and various members of the team as they take on their tasks for the day (not feeling quite so cool). To explain our duties (along with our leadership in the Vacation Bible School program) – we have a team of ladies doing organizational tasks to help the school prepare for the next school year – filing and sorting supplies – sounds easier than it is what with crowded conditions and the heat. Another team of Girlfriends have bravely taken on painting of classrooms (definitely a much harder task than it sounds – limited supplies and equipment plus the heat really intensifies these tasks). Amusing moments occur often as we undertake these “out of our comfort zone” projects. The picture of Jessamy, Valorie and Kelsey is a snapshot of our innocent flubs (the fingers indicate how many Girlfriends it takes to work so intensely to remove nails from a door only to find out that the door was nailed shut to prevent people from falling into the swamp – ha)! Day 2 found us falling more in love with a group of Belize children. Vacation Bible School doubled in size from yesterday, largely due to the incredible program that our team has put together. Yes…Sandra, Sheila and Shondrah have fabulous hats to entertain the kids! AND…most importantly of all – lives are being changed. See the classroom of children with their teachers (Nancy, Shelly & Demetra) – by the end of VBS today – the entire class had confessed Christ! Just our second day in Belize – what will the end of the week hold? Stay tuned!

Funny how it is – accepting an assignment to do something God puts in your heart…the opportunities will abound and you will end up being astonished by what He has in store as you “accept.” For our Trinity Girlfriends Team, we left Texas with anticipation of all God had in store for our time in Belize. With only 24 hours passed, we have just gotten a glimpse. Vacation Bible School was a smashing success and we anticipate that the next few days even more children will be impacted by the love of God through the ministry of our team. Accepting the challenge to participate in painting and repairing of classrooms was a real stretch for some of us but so rewarding to see the finished product. We are also finding the opportunities to touch lives on the street, in our hotel, and among the staff of Holy Cross Belize are real. I know we will have much to tell and will try to use this site to keep you updated. Stay tuned and enjoy the pictures!

Sunday, 7/27…..21 Girlfriends from Trinity Church left for San Pedro Belize to work at the Holy Cross Anglican Primary School. We are ready for whatever lies ahead! Can you imagine 21 Texan Girlfriends taking charge of the atmosphere in Belize – awesome – Vacation Bible School to conduct, childrens’ lives to be touched, construction products to accomplish….the list is endless. Stay posted for updates.

Dear Friends,

So many of you have sent encouraging words as you have read the reports from Zimbabwe. Thank you!

Although our communication has been minimal this trip, I was able to talk with Bruce last night.

After talking with him, I knew that I needed to share with you an URGENT need. On Bruce’s last trip to Zimbabwe, he visited a project called Hopley Farm. Hopley Farm is what is called a “re-settlement” community, but truly it is something like an internment camp where the desperately poor of Harare are forceably taken by the government. On Bruce’s visit last fall, there were 700+ children there….that number has grown to 2,100 children!

I listened to my husband’s voice break with emotion last night as he described the appalling conditions of the camp to me. We personally have seen great poverty in our travels, but Bruce assures me that we have never seen this…no food, no bathrooms or running water, the list goes on. Both the despair and stench are overwhelming.

It is winter in Zimbabwe and very cold. On Bruce’s first visit to Hopley last week, he immediately identified the need for blankets for the children. The people have NO possessions much less warmth. Bruce told me stories of families and teenagers building fires in the huts with no floor to keep warm at night, many of them asphyxiating by morning or their threadbare clothing catching fire. Bruce returned to Hopely last week to distribute 150 blankets to the children who are orphaned at this camp. The great joy that overcame him at giving away the blankets was quickly tempered by his sorrow that he could not give blankets to ALL the children and his concern for the welfare of those given the blankets….will they be safe from those driven to despair by the cold?

So, the plan is simple. New Name Mission Society has committed to buy blankets for ALL the children at Hopley Farm. Quality blankets can be purchased in Zimbabwe for a mere $7 each. Bruce has already organized vendors and a team of trusted friends to make the purchases and deliveries after his departure. We would so appreciate your help in bringing warmth to a desperately poor child. We do need your help to raise the $14,000 to accomplish this simple plan. You can purchase a blanket for $7, 10 blankets for $70, 100 blankets for $700.

We can’t express our gratitude for you considering the request. And for those who helped us purchase the 150 blankets (and so much more – reports to come soon) – THANK YOU! Your sacrifice has made all the difference to a lot of children in Zimbabwe!

Blessings,

Camella

Enjoy the picture of one little girl receiving her blanket last week AND the room full of children all received blankets in the first distribution.

Some of the latest news from Bruce.

I had a busy couple of days, but things are coming together. Bought 60 good blankets for the kids today and will deliver them and shoes Friday and Saturday. Looking into getting some new clothes for the kids and medical supplies from South Africa. It’s great to be able to give them the funds to meet these critcal needs. I am finding more needs daily but know we are going to be able to help, thanks to all of our friends. Tell everyone thanks for their support and prayers.

This country is devastated at the moment and the violence and torture continues as I write this. Unbelievable things are being done to people just for voting for the opposition. Unreal!! At the same time unbelievable miracles are happening as people call on the name of the Lord.

Bruce

I have taken the liberty to take excerpts from an e-mail that I just received from Bruce in Zimbabwe (mushy parts are edited – ha). I know this will help you get more a picture of what is going on in this land that we love.

Finally got to a computer that would work. I went to Ivordale Orphanage on Saturday and it was great to see all of the kids. Some of them have colds, of course with no form of treatment. The country is a total mess economically. They are now printing 50 billion $ notes and the exchange rate is 180 billion to $1 usd. I can’t come close to understanding all of that. We are going to find some places to give some money to help kids though. Ivordale and Kadoma Orphanages will get some relief, but it will be Wednesday before I meet with them to find out all of the details of what they need and the costs. I went with Asher Williams today to a new orphanage that is in a lot of need in all areas. Voice of Peace is the name of the home and there are 23 kids there, mostly 2-6 years of age. I told them to get a list of practical needs with costs and we would help them. I was able to pray for most of them and give them hugs today so I got my fix for the day! I am going to speak with Dr Reid about getting some medical help for these kids as several of them are quite sick at the moment. I have 2 times set to speak to the medical students and 2 visits to the cancer ward and HIV clinic with Dr. Reid. Go back to Ivordale on Friday and Kadoma on Saturday. Also going to Hopley Farm this week and hoping to get to Chitzingueza to see Emerson and Pst. Johnathan too. I did sleep some last night and we had power until 5AM, not when you need it. Still no water so I have had a couple of “bucket baths.” As I was taking one of those this morning in the dark and complaining to myself a bit, I realized that I had it better than 99% of the people in Zimbabwe to even have warm water and a place to bathe. I am doing good. Thank everyone for their prayers and support. I will keep a list and document some stories as we put some smiles on faces! Bless you, Bruce

Thank you, everyone, for your prayers for Bruce. I know he welcomes them, but I covet them even more.

Blessings, Camella

Bruce & I would like to take this opportunity to thank Robert Kalatschan and Bob Stephens of Giving It Back to Kids; Stephen, Avalon, Hayley, Agathe and Jenny of Orange County; photographer extraordinaire – Sesha of Springfield, MO; and, our own Trinity Team – Carlos, John Michael, Christine, Michael, Aric & Spencer…what a life changing opportunity we each had in Vietnam! It is a joy for our foundation, New Name Mission Society to partner with Giving It Back to Kids to impact the nation of Vietnam through the compassion of Christ. Thank you, GIBTK, for all you do to help the little ones of Vietnam!

Enjoy all the FUN pictures of our silly moments while in Vietnam!