First, I want to thank some young people who have made sacrificial gifts to the work in Chile. Marcus Winn and Joshua Clark, two third grade students at Hillcrest Christian School, recently set up a stand in front of their house to sell lemons. After a day's work, they donated $10.21 to the mission. Another Hillcrest student, Everett Lopez, collected all his money from doing chores and getting good grades, donating the entire amount $141 to the mission. Finally, Katie Hunter's ninth-grade class at Whittier Christian High School in La Habra, sold breakfast burritos at school for four months, resulting in their contribution of $717.59.
These kids are really modeling the generosity that God calls all of his children to.
Second, I have to say that we have fallen about $6000 behind on our ability to pay the remodeling of the 5800-sqft house on the school property. This is a result of a slight deficit each month in funds to pay our Chilean coworkers who are managing the project. In addition, for the month of March and most of April our emphasis has been getting funds to the earthquake and tsunami-stricken people in Constitución, Chile. We are doing our best to stretch every dollar and still get everything done. Please pray about our deficit, and if you feel moved in your spirit, consider a special gift. Thanks to all of you who have been so generous.
Third, God sent us an angel to help finish cleaning the land on the school property. We have been fretting about the costs of removing all the trunks, stumps, branches, leaves, trash, etc. from the property. At one time, we had an estimate of $13.000 to do it. The men of the church in Chile (http://www.icisa.cl/) stepped in and did much of the work, but much heavy-duty work remained, such as removing stumps. We have been resigned to doing slowly what we can, hoping that when building begins on the school itself, we will have the equipment to do the work.Then day-before-yesterday, a man named Alejandro Hernández was driving down the road and noticed our gate was open. He decided to check out to see if there was any work. He said he was on his way to another job at the time. He offered to buy our firewood for a fairly good price. In the middle of the conversation, it came out that we are Christians building a school. He said that he, too, is a Christian and that he was certain that God had opened that gate to bring him here. As a result, he offered to clean and smooth all the property, carry off all the trash, cut down remaining trees, trim the dead fronds from our palm trees, and remove stumps. He offered us the free use of two chain saws, a backhoe, and the workers to do the work. And he offered to haul away the trash at a price about 1/2 the best we have ever seen. As a result, we are getting the work done for about $500. Without delay, yesterday he began the work and made very rapid progress.So, my concerns about the account being short about $6000 perhaps are misplaced. God continues to surprise at the most opportune moments.
These are fotos of the work that Alejandro has already done.
God bless you all in the upcoming days.
