This past week, we distributed new school uniforms for about 50 orphans. They were so happy. It was also the last time we will get to see the kids for six months because our furlough begins next week. We are finishing up the rest of the school uniforms this week and when it is all finished we will have given over 100 uniforms. Thanks to the efforts of the mission team from Kewanee Illinois, all of these kids will be welcomed into their schools. Mandy spoke with all the orphans about the importance of education. Her father, Jim Patterson organized a mission trip to Malawi and helped raise the funding for the uniforms. His vision was for all of the orphans to have an opportunity to attend shool.

Thank you Kewanee First Christian Church for giving the money to pay for the uniforms.

Mandy's dad, Jim Patterson went to be with the Lord on July 30, 2007. Although Larry was not able to travel back for the memorial service, he wrote his fondest memories of Jim. Here is what he wrote:

"There are alot of things I could say at this moment...about Jim. The first thing is to Sandy...Mom. I am so sorry I can't be there. There is nothing I could do or say to change the loss you feel but I would like to comfort you by just being there. I pray you understand and ask you to save a little time for me when I am there because I will need your comfort too. I went to our village and told Agogo our coordinator's grandmother about Jim. She grabbed her heart and said "Pepani Pepani" "I am So So sorry". She then took my hand and walked me from her house down to where we have the orphan care program. She has never come to the program before much less taken my hand and escort me there. I found out recently that she is the oldest matriarch of the royal family. In her way she was giving tribute to Jim. And I want to do the same.

I have known him since I was nine years old. And in these 41 years we have had many encounters, some good and some not so good. But all of them served to create a unique relationship. My first day of school moving from Springfield Mo. to Kewanee at nine years old was one of those times. I was being teased because of talking like a Hillbilly and got into a fight right in front of the Blish Building. Here comes the principle, Mr Patterson. So I stopped him telling him my story and he asked in a gruff voice, "Who started it? ". I said "He did". And then he said with same gruff voice "Who won?", and I said "I did". Then he got quieter and said, "I guess everything turned OK then didn't it." and walked away. That summer I was swimming at the Northeast pool and so him playing with his family in the pool and I thought WOW, it's Mr Patterson and his wife and daughters yahoo! I holler out "Mr Patterson, Hey Mr Patterson" and dove into the pool, the shallow end. I came up out of the water right in front of in front of him with the biggest bloody smile you have ever seen. He said, "Oh garsh you're bleeding, hurry up and go to the front desk and call your mom" I had hit the bottom of the pool and cut a hole in my lip and I thought, Mr Patterson saved my life. The Patterson family moved away which was a sad day but they moved back when I was in sixth grade. And guess who sat next to me, but Mr Patterson's daughter Mandy. I thought "WOW I saw her in her swimming suit in third grade and now she is sitting by me! As you all know we started dating three years later and I started spending a lot a time at their house. One night I came over for dinner and they had popcorn. Popcorn. I was fifteen and eating five meals a day which my mom says included a loaf a bread each day. Sandy who loves to cook said she would make me some hot dogs. After six hotdogs Jim finaly looked at me and said, "We eat here again Lar". That same year he and Howard Shroyer took me fishing and four O'clock in the morning. I had never been so excited since I wanted to make a good impression. I picked a good spot and Jim and Howard walked down a ways and before they could get started themselves, they heard a big splash. I found out later they thought I had caught a big one but soon saw me floating down the river. They pulled me out and cleared my lungs but with Jim's experience in special ed., he knew that there was another problem, that I was having a seizure. This time, he really did save my life. He eventually allowed me to marry Mandy and he and I became family. The rest seems like a blur until we decided to go on the mission field and Jim became one of the most excited and the most encouraging people. It didn't take him long to start telling others and making sacrifices himself, to send us and to support us. He now knows something I have been wondering about. When does God start preparing someone for ministry and who does he use in this preparation? I think I just answered that. God uses whomever he wants to use and he used Jim to prepare me, for his daughter, even though I don't think he knew it, and God used Jim to prepare me for ministry.

There is one more thing I want to say. The most important part of the race is the finish line and a runner must finish well to win the prize. Jim started the plan to come here about two years ago. He encouraged others to come on this mission trip and they are now here, encouraging Mandy and I by their work. Jim finished well."

Early in our ministry, we taught the orphans that even though we don't speak each other's language, we can communicate through signs like "I love you." We taught them the American sign language and told them it is our special sign with them and we can show each other our love by using that sign. It has become very popular and whenever they see us, they show us the sign. It has been a tremendous source of encouragement for us.