August 6, 2003

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Time goes by so fast. Sometimes time goes by so fast that if I didn't know better, I would say the months are getting shorter. The kids went back to school today. They had a busy break. All the kids went camping. We sent them in small groups. Also we had several teams from the US here with us. Also we had VBS for them here. The group from St. Louis did the VBS. The group also built some closets. They look great. Some of the rooms didn't have the bigger closets, so we did those first. Now we will continue to work on the other rooms to put the doors on. This is one of the things that the government has required. We want to thank all those who continue to send donations for the specific needs. We need to get the things fixed and finished so we can get our state registration number back. We have also had many areas painted that need to be done. The things that need to be done as soon as possible are the roofs. If we don't the areas painted will get messed up. Please pray that God will provide the means for the roofs to be done.

Yesterday we had baptism at Central Baptist Church. It was a man from one of the mission points. How this man came to the church is very interesting. A few months ago a man from the city of Lupercio came to visit the Alpha and Omega Home. Then after knowing the home he asked if we could help him with a young lady that needed to be helped as soon as possible. The man was so impressed about our work, that when we invited him to visit the mission point in Lupercio he went. He became faithful, professed Christ as Savior, and yesterday was baptized. Right before baptism he said to me, "Pastor, isn't interesting how God works? I went to get help for some one else and found help for myself. Praise God!" That is a good example of Romans 8:28.

Several of the mission points have had VBS during this school break. Stephanie has been a great blessing in this work. Doing visitation a helping with the VBS. Stephanie certainly has a heart for the Lord and for lost souls. She also takes time with the children here at the home. Witnessing to the lost ones and encouraging those who are babes in Christ 

The kids are all well. We have had a little of sickness going around. Mostly chicken pox. Our 3 boys had chicken pox. Gabriel had a stomach virus that broke out sours inside his mouth. He couldn't eat anything for almost 5 days. Now it looks like they are just about all well.

Thanks for your prayers and support. May God bless all of you.

Love,

Odali & Kathy Barros
Tito, Jonas and Gabriel