July 5, 2008

Dear friends,

Hope all is well with you. We are doing fine. Things around here are calm. I have not written lately because there has not been any changes in the situation here. The judge still has not starting hearing anyone yet. So as we wait to see the outcome of all this we stay busy with other things.

Here at the home there are thirty-four people. There are some adults and the kids that have turned eighteen that are here with us. There are five that I have become their legal guardian. Some of the older ones that are still here are the ones that are in college. They help here and we pay for the college. There are six in college right now. Since the place is so big it takes several people to keep it up.

The church is using the part of the building where the school was. We have done several events in the church and we have many plans for different ways to evangelize to the kids in the neighborhood. There are new houses going up all around us. It has been interesting to see how the area around us is really growing.

The leaders that work with our young teens have been making new plans to reach out to their school friends. This last Saturday they made a special supper. It was really cute. Pray for the group because it is a much needy age to work with.

The youth group has also been working hard. They have done some special events to reach out to the junior and senior high kids. There are so many kids in this city. The enemy offers them so many things that attract this age. Unfortunately in these days, the moms and dads are too busy to teach their kids the right way to live. So that leaves doors wide open for the things of this world. Last night six of our youth went to almost all the schools in town to invite them to come to youth meeting on Saturday. Please continue to pray for these ministries.

We want to thank those of you who have been faithful in your prayers and support. Knowing that we have friends praying for us is a great inspiration. So many of you have written or called us and given encouragement. What a blessing. May God richly bless each of you.

As we wait to see what God has in store for us we will keep on serving Him in as many ways as we can. The command is to preach the Gospel to all and that is what we are going to do. Some times we don't understand God's plans, but that is not up to us anyway. We must learn to trust in HIM fully and know that His plans will not be changed. We can be used by HIM or GOD will use someone else.

We are excited that our daughter, Kathy Lee, and her husband, Dan, will be coming to work with us here. They are already working on their support. The Lord willing, they should be here before the end of the year.

Odali and Kathy Barros