Blake has the awesome privilege of teaching English in a village that was previously very opposed to any outsiders working among them. About 1 year ago, Shawna and some of the team decided to make a visit to this village and see if anything had changed. Although they were not thrilled to see us or talk to us, they were excited about the opportunity of offering their children a better education. So, they decided to tolerate us.

Two of our team members took to teaching the children how to cultivate soil & plants and avoid erosion. They set up a huge garden and the kids would take care of it during the week and when the vegetables were ripe they enjoyed them for lunch. Our team masseuse took to giving the elderly a visit and massaging their aches and pains. Blake took on the task of keeping 40 first through third graders interested in English.

One day the team discovered a crippled young boy (day 24 of the February Prayer Guide). If you receive the prayer guide you will be praying for him in a few days. A special friendship was formed and he became very open to Bible stories. Eventually he asked for his own Bible and every week would have questions as God began to open his heart. Last week the angels celebrated as he gave his life to Christ and was baptized in a near by stream. His mother came to watch him be baptized. This village is now no longer completely closed off from the Gospel. There is a flame burning brightly!!