Updates

Well, it’s been an embarrassingly long time since I’ve updated this blog!  So, I won’t spend too much time on each topic–just breeze through the past month at Spero:Voice.

1.  Our Summer Program to the children has been an unbelievable experience.  We’ve seen such growth in confidence, reading ability, and math skills.  Volunteers have been so, so, so faithful and have brought life to the program.  The kids have really been blessed and, of course, we have been blessed more than we can say, as well.  We’re excited to see the momentum from this program lead us strongly into the school year, increasing the number of kids in our Homework Assistance Program.

2.  We had a week-long visit from Lead 222 kids from Nashville, Chicago, Oklahoma City, and Deer Creek.  Lead 222 is a fantastic Youth Leadership Program and we were privileged to be a part.  Youth helped us with our Summer Program, engaged older kids from the Refugee Community in service projects in and around where they live, and delivered much-needed food and cleaning supplies to families.  It was such a joy to introduce youth to those in the refugee community we have come to love so much.  We truly, truly feel like a family.

3.  Thanks to everyone who have been praying for our friends in the car accident earlier this month.  Everyone is home from the hospital now and we’re working on the details for a benefit garage sale to help with rent, etc. while everyone gets back the strength to work.  More details will be coming soon.

4.  Our friends at Creative Intention had a benefit concert tonight.  Mark Ryan at The Edge Church was so unbelievably amazing and offered to create, promote, and manage the concert completely.  What a blessing to Creative Intention!  This organization offers free music lessons to children who could not otherwise afford them, and they are working primarily with International Refugees.  Paul and and Jennifer are great friends and we’re so happy to work with them so closely in engaging this population.  All of us were as proud of three young men from The Congo who performed as we would have been of our own children doing the same song.  We just can’t explain how much we love these boys and how much we believe God has purposed them to bring about significant change in their home country by speaking to Americans about what is occurring there every day.

We’ll try to be more expedient on our updates!  We just get so excited about what’s going on that it’s hard to stop ourselves long enough to fill everyone in.  We love the ministry that the Lord is building and we love our friends from all over the world!!!

Please Pray for our Friends

Hello, all.  Writing to share a prayer request for some of our Burmese friends.  A serious accident this afternoon left 4 in the ICU and 1 injured, but released.  This is a scary experience for anyone, but imagine navigating the process when you don’t understand what any nurse or doctor is saying to you.  

It’s  a blessing that the Burmese community is so strong, so there’s no lack of people there to help out.  But, there are only a few that can speak English well enough to translate so the burden on them is strong.  

Please join us in prayer  for the safety of our friends tonight and for the next few days as their injuries become less fragile.  And, pray for their families and friends as they endure the stress of the experience.  We’ll keep you updated.