Flying to Bangui isn’t easy... but Brenda and I are always excited to meet up in Atlanta and head off on our adventures…until about 10 hours into the trip. The flights are long, crowded and sleepless. And at the end we arrive in the Bangui airport with MANY checkpoints, extreme heat, and long waiting (with pushing and shoving) at the baggage claim. It seems every trip I’m asking myself, “Why am I doing this?”. And then the first day of Teacher Training arrives and from my room in the Guest House I hear teachers arriving, laughing and greeting each other. I always smile and say, “THAT’S why I’m doing this!” It’s worth the 30 hours of travel to be with these friends and Christian coworkers.

OBSTACLES The Hand in Hand part of this trip was shorter than usual so we crammed 10 days of work into seven. Many obstacles and interruptions meant that sorting and packing school supplies into each bag took three different days. It was very hot and humid, but Emmanuel and Jean stepped up to take the brunt of the work, allowing Brenda and me to handle the lists and tying up the bags at the end. It was much like being in a sauna-very sweaty, and yet they kept their smiles and grateful attitude. In the end we accomplished all that we needed in time for teachers to carry them off to their schools. Thank you, Emmanuel and Jean, for teaching me yet another lesson about not stressing and doing the work God has put in front of me.

DISCIPLE MAKING Before Jesus ascended into heaven He commanded us to "make disciples". We're encouraged each time we hear stories about our orphan students becoming more like Christ. Our teachers feel the same way. This is what Teacher Laurantine (Cite de la Paix school/partner of Marion GBC) shared with us:   "There is a child in my class named Gad who is almost blind. He is 8 years old and even though he cannot see the board, he is always the first child to answer questions. He learns even without seeing. If children are quarreling, or if a fellow student has done something wrong, he will go to them and provide council. He wants to help the children in his class and even assists adults in our church. Several times when he heard that someone was ill he went to their home to lay hands on them and pray with them. Perhaps he will be a pastor someday. Watching him become who God made him to be gives me so much joy!"~ Laurantine

Reading Glasses When I turned 40 it seemed that my arm wasn’t long enough for me to continue to read. This is a problem for most of us (although we hate to admit it). We can run to Walmart to purchase reading glasses, but people in C.A.R. don’t have that option. Most of our teachers are 40+ years and struggle with their sight. Thank you, ‘Life Community Church’ in Hilliard, OH, (Brenda’s home church) for donating various strengths of reading glasses for our teachers. Thirty-two of our teachers had an exam and were given the much needed glasses from 1.25 up to 2.50 to help them read. What a beautiful gift for these men and women who have been struggling for several years to read their Bibles and school lessons.

Be watching your email for a letter and photo from your teacher/school. Thanks for praying! Ginger & Brenda

Hand in Hand Orphan Schools, a ministry of Encompass World Partners