Wednesday, December 19, 2012

AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR CHAYAH FAMILY

Chayah Family,

The Christmas season is here and in this season of celebrating the birth of Jesus, we are so so grateful that you have each supported us in the birth of Chayah Children's Home. Family sponsors, child sponsors, key sponsors and those of you who have prayed for us...we don't know how to thank you for your incredible gifts.

Grace was born in a lowly manger over 2000 years ago and with the first cry of that tiny baby Jesus, the world was offered new life and new hope. Its impossible to miss all of the celebration during the season, but its also so exciting to consider the new life and new hope that 19 children in Kakira Uganda are about to experience.

The new year holds great promise. On January 6th, board members will leave from LAX, travel for nearly 48 hours and begin several days of planning, organizing and preparing to furnish Chayah's first house. We'll work closely with Janet, our house mom and make arrangements for the rest of the team's arrival on the 10th. Bunk beds, mattresses, sheets, tables, towels, pots, pans, stove, refrigerator, mosquito nets and more will be moved in.

As soon as everything is ready, we'll arrange to pick up the children and take them right to the hospital for a complete check up. When everyone has seen the doctor, we will take this tiny tribe to the house and once they arrive...Chayah becomes a home. Janet plans for the cook to have their first meal ready for them when they walk through the doors. We plan to stand in awe of the amazing grace and provision of our loving Father. What God has planned for that day is yet to be seen, but surely it will be a day that is more than we could ask or imagine. It is His way, after all.

The days following move in will be busy with activity. We plan to get each child registered for school, buy uniforms and two sets of other clothes, shoes, socks and bed clothes. We'll play with, wrestle with and do crafts with them; help them label their clothing, learn to make their beds and make a plan to keep 24 toothbrushes from get- ting mixed up. We're taking tools and the older boys will get to build something together with the men. Somebody will be going with a Ugandan friend, Solomon, to find the perfect van to shuttle this new family around. We'll attend church with them, go to the village marketplace with them and make sure they have the 2 brooms and 4 rolls of toilet paper required for the first day of school.

They will be uncertain, perhaps fearful, maybe grateful, and begin feeling the first glimpse of hopeful. We will be prayerful and excited, patient and anxious all at the same time. None of us have walked this exact road before and in our own strength, we'd be sunk. But God has already proven that he is more invested in these children than we could ever be and we know he is faithful to complete the work he has started.

As the days fly by during this busy month, we will be wrapping gifts here and trying to wrap our minds around the tasks ahead. We'll sing carols and hang ornaments, mail visa applications and collect things to take.

We consider it such a privilege to be allowed to see this through, to be able to watch God pull together so much in such a short time and to be part of rescuing tender young lives for the Glory of God and all He has planned for them.

We are so grateful for your partnership, for your encouragement and for trusting us to take what you have sacrificially given to the other side of the world. Chayah's house mom, Janet, has said to us over and over again..."I do not know how to thank you or have anything to give you. I can only pray that the God who sees will bless you for all you are doing for these children". We cannot say it any better. We pray that the God who sees will bless you, our Chayah Family, for all you are doing for these children.

Merry Christmas, 
Chayah
*Meeting the Chayah Kids