Compassion for Asia

This week we have been attending the Globe Missions Conference. As most of you know, we are part of Globe International located in Florida. Every year they arrange a missions conference that they ask all of their missionaries to be part of. The missions conference starts the 1st of May and several churches in the Pensacola area are part of it. We try to make an effort to be there every year.
This year Globe decided to do something new. They arranged a Globe retreat where all the missionaries were able to spend a few days having fun, relaxing and getting to know each other better. It was a real big blessing! The kids loved it. Rebeccas favorite things to do was to jump in the pool, but the rest of the family didn't complain either.
A great thanks to all of the staff and churches who worked and gave towards this retreat. It was truly refreshing and we had a wonderful time!

This weekend we are in California to meet with some of our dear friends and supporters there. We had the privilege of staying with Michael Spitsbergen and his family in their beautiful home.
Yesterday Sudip spoke at Abiding Place Church both morning and evening service. He did a great job and The presence of God was there. The pastor, Mark Spitsbergen, and his wife were the ones who came to Nepal and did the crusade together with us and John Ward. We were able to spend some time with his family also and we really enjoyed our time with them.
Thank you so much for your support and prayers.

This week we received some very sad news. We have a lady that has been cooking the food at the Bible College for us since 2003. She comes from the village and her husband went to India to earn money for her and their son, but found another wife instead. So Ram Maya was kicked out of his parents house, where she was living, and had to beg the people in the village for food or work. Finally someone asked us and she was able to come here and work and her son stayed with the other kids at the orphanage and was able to go to school.
Last week she went back to the village together with her son to get some paperwork done for him. Then during a thunderstorm she went outside to get something and she was struck by lightening. She died on the way to the hospital and now her son, Santosh, is without any parents.
He will continue to live at the orphanage and we will be helping him in any way we can, but please keep him in your prayers.

Today Sudip got a phone call from Nepal and they told us that one of the girls living at our orphanage, Ganga, had an accident and broke both of her legs and one of her arms. She fell out of the window from the 3rd floor and we are just happy that she is alive. Please pray for Ganga. She does not have any parents, only a sister that she meets once in a while.

The Bible College building is moving forward quickly. It is scheduled to be finished before school starts up again in May. The building is made in a way that we will be able to reuse all the material when we have enough funds to make a permanent building. We are excited that all of our ministries will not be located in the same area, except our main church. This has been in our hearts for a while. Also we feel like we are able to spend our money more wisely now that we do not have to pay any rent. Praise the Lord for His faithful provision.

Another update of the kids. They are growing so fast. Samuel has learned how to get around and now he gets into everything. He is now 8 months and Samuel and Rebecca are really enjoying each others company. The only thing Rebecca doesn't like is when she has to share her toys. But I know she will get used to it, she is already doing better.
I feel blessed to have two such wonderful kids! (and a great husband too, of course.. )

This evening Sudip spoke at Harvest Vinyard in Crestview. We always visit them when we are in Florida. They are great friends of us. Today they shared a wonderful dinner with the whole church and we were invited. What an honor! The food was amazing and the fellowship was even better.
Thank you so much for having us and for your love sacrifice! Please pray for our friends!
Here is a picture of Sudip, pastor Alex and pastor Michael.