Angie's trip to Manila seems suddenly upon us. In about 6 weeks,
she will be returning to Manila, Philippines, to receive the 2nd level
of training as an educational therapist with NILD. We have been so
encouraged with the results of this educational therapy with Jael the
last couple of years, and we are excited for Angie to learn even new
techniques in targeting the specific deficit areas with Jael to spur on
even further growth. We feel a bit like we are walking a wire as we
wait for the funds to slowly trickle in. Please pray that all the
needed funds are in place at the right time.
We have also reached a new era in parenting...adolescence (and all
the accompanying emotions)! So far, this has dramatically changed the
atmosphere of working on school related things with Jael. Please pray
for wisdom for us as we wade into these new, deeper waters together.
As we move along and learn more in this area of special education,
and how each of our children specifically learn, we are growing in
confidence that when the time comes for us to possibly resume a tribal
church-planting ministry, we will be able to do so without sacrificing
our kids educational needs.
Learning to Learn
We recently received the results of Jael's annual testing, and the
results were encouraging! Slow but steady progress continues to be the
trend! We discovered that her strengths have become even stronger, and
even her areas of deficit improved a bit. We know where the problem
areas are and what we need to keep working at, and we know what areas we
can pull from to help compensate. While progress is slow, the projected
outcome is very hopeful that she will be where we want her to be by the
time she starts high school. Yes, we have a ways to go yet, but are so
encouraged with the progress we are seeing, and for the more focused
picture we have of her overall profile. Please pray for strength and
courage for Jael and Angie to keep hammering away at these weak areas as
it is HARD work. We are thankful the school year is almost over, and
that we can lighten her academic load for a bit (though we will continue
to work on some areas throughout the summer).
Baruch is also doing some better in the classroom. We have
discovered a few things that really seem to help improve his ability to
pay attention. However, the fact remains that he is an imaginative 7
year old boy who exhibits ADHD characteristics...some days are just long.
Titus, now 4, is learning what it means to share, and be a good
friend. This is hard to do with the most prized of his possessions.
Yet, he is a friendly boy, so we are hopeful that a little training and
discipline will resolve the matter.
Learning to Lean
Over the years that we have served here at Lapilo, we have shared
bits and pieces about some of the people we rub elbows with on a regular
basis. Our "work meri" or house girl, is one of these individuals. We
have had the extreme privilege to minister to her spiritually: Chris
through the evangelistic teaching at the store a few years ago, and
Angie through her almost daily interaction with her. We have seen her
grow and mature in amazing and sobering ways over the years, though she
is perhaps right now facing the greatest trial of her faith to date.
Recently, this friend received the shocking news that her husband
wanted to divorce her. No reason has been communicated to her and it
seems that his family is as surprised by this news as she and her family
is. His and her families met to try and work through some issues with
them, and a date for court has been set for this coming Thursday.
In PNG a girl only really has the rights that her father, and later
her husband, grants her, for as long as he grants them. In situations
of divorce, a man owns everything, and women have been forced out of
their homes, leaving their children (and hearts) behind. We have heard
rumors that this may be the case here too. As I have prayed with my
friend this week, she has gone from understandable worry and anxiety
over what the future may have in store for her and her three young
children, to a calm confidence of acceptance and peace that God is in
control and will work His will.
Please pray for her this week. I know from experience that leaving
things in God's hands is a moment by moment decision, and with the court
date looming, the temptation to take those things back to fret over them
is going to grow exponentially. Pray for God's will to be done, and for
her husband to be gracious with her. Please pray that testimony of her
response to her situation will create opportunities in her community to
share this faith that offers hope and peace that reaches beyond one's
circumstances or understanding. She may be one person, but one person
can cause a ripple effect that is stretched far and wide. PRAY she
remains strong in her faith!
I know that this update has gone long. We thank you in advance for
prayers for our friend and her situation, for wisdom in educating and
training our children, and for his continued provision for Angie's trip
to Manila. God is so good!
Because of Him,
Chris, Angie, Jael, Baruch and Titus Walker
