A Roof for the Children

Quick update: this last week with our volunteer team went great! More to come!


The team gearing up to hike out to Foibe. :D

EDIT: and by "more to come," I mean we're hiking back out to Foibe AND a brand new village Tuesday through Saturday, so next week we should have news to share! :D

Belated Mother's Day Special

To start out, this is the best mother ever right here:


I have been praying for a young man I know down here in the rain forest. He claims to follow God, but has been grieving his parents’ hearts because he has not been living like a follower of God should. Arriving at their house one day, I saw him and gasped.

Face covered in wounds, shoulder looking very much like Wesley’s in The Princess Bride after being attacked by an R.O.U.S., the young man looks at me. “I got in an accident.” Leaning over too far on one of the curvy roads here, his motorcycle went crashing to the ground. It was a miracle he was not hurt worse. “I am so sorry this happened to you!” I exclaimed, while asking him all about his injuries. “It’s really a good thing,” the young man replied. “Lying in the road flat on my back, I rededicated my life to God. I’ve quit smoking, quit drinking, and I am going to live for God.”

His mom ran out and wrapped me in a huge hug. “Isn’t it wonderful?” She asked. “Now I know that all of my children are going to heaven.” One week to the day before the accident, his mother had been praying for him. She read this passage from Hebrews 12:

“For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?...For [our human fathers] indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but [God] for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

“Lord, my son says he is your follower, but here he is doing all of these things not fitting. If he is really your son, then please discipline him like You say you will in order to bring back him to you.” Looking at his face today she cannot help but think that she is in some way responsible. “I prayed for it and it happened.” She looks up at my face (because I am a foot taller than everyone here :P) guiltily.

“This physical pain that your son is in is temporary, but spiritual change lasts forever,” I say. “You are a great mom to pray for your child’s relationship with God.” She grins, grabs my hands, and we jump around like schoolgirls, praising God for His love that brings us to repentance.

Mothers, pray for your children. For all of us, PRAISE THE LORD! He has provided a Way for us to become His beloved children! “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

Please pray for us as we head out to the village of Foibe this Wednesday, May 18th, with a volunteer team from the states. We will be helping by building a much-needed school for the children and sharing life with the villagers. Take some time today to share with people you meet of the love which your Father has given you!

Cockroaches

I am thinking about cockroaches today because one stared me down throughout lunch today, just daring me to come at him. I ignored him until I finished my lunch, determined that the enjoyment of my delicious chicken jambalaya burritos would not be disturbed by the likes of him.

I’m no expert, but I do live in the home of hissing cockroaches. The island of Madagascar, that is, not my hotel home specifically. The hotel itself is very clean, there’s just nothing you can do to fully keep those creepy crawlers out.

Downstairs there is a keyboard. My friend was having a hard time playing it, so took it apart to see what was broken. Nothing was broken. The keyboard was full of dead cockroaches. He removed them and the keyboard went back to playing without issue. Ew.

I lived my entire life thinking cockroaches would only come if there was food or dirt for them. This is incorrect. While those might draw them more mightily, they also show up in my MEDICAL cabinet. These bottles of meds are sealed and plastic. Where is the draw in that??? Our stored food is all sealed or in gallon Ziplock bags and they still nose around in there at night. They don’t get anything; they’re just rude.

There are multiple kinds of cockroaches in Madagascar. How do I know this? I have heard hissing cockroaches fight in my kitchen. Hissing cockroaches do not fly. I was dive-bombed by a flying cockroach last night. Thus, there must be more than just the hissers.

These are a few of my cockroach thoughts that I decided to share with you. Hope they enhanced your day. ;)

Family Visit

My parents and little brother came and visited me last week. It was wonderful. It was such a blessing to me (and many others) that they took the time, money, and bravery to come, quite literally, to the ‘ends of the earth.’ I really enjoyed BEING with them and getting to talk whenever we wanted to. I loved seeing my mom and dad share the truth with a whole village, and then later attempt to explain what a trombone is. :-) I was able to introduce my little brother to crocodile meat and whop him and my parents in Nertz (okay, so maybe “whop” is a bit of an exaggeration ;).

Prayer requests:
We have a volunteer team coming this month (can y’all believe it’s MAY already?!). They will be going out to the village of Foibe with us to work on our Roof for the Children project. Please pray that God’s name would be lifted high as we help the village build a school for their children, do children programs, and build relationships.

For God’s continued leading (Psalm 43:3-5) in planning both my last few months here and what comes next in my future.

I love you all!
Cara :)
Jude 24-25

All in a Day's Drive

Driving here is fun. Nail-biting at times for my passengers, I'm sure, but fun nonetheless. I have NO doubt God has stopped more accidents than we will ever know, praise Him for His power!


It is gorgeous ALL the way during the 10 hour drive down to the rain forest.


We stop for zebu frequently. :P


Smiley face skull & crossbones warns in French of a dangerous descent. :-)


People are always walking alongside [and in] the streets – and yes, they are talented enough to carry large things on their heads WHILE doing so!


This is the capital city 10 hours north which is NOT my favorite to drive in!


You brought a couple extra bags, farm animals, and a motorcycle? No problem - we can fit it on! :D


Oops – how did THIS one get on here??? :-) I just love Heather. :D