CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATE!!!

We had our first Graduation of our womens pregnancy ministry in Tanza. Dec 11, 2007 20 women recieved a diploma, bible, bible study, gift, and baby shower. It was so awesome to see all the women in their dresses and lookin so beautiful! We started the day singing some praise and worship songs, and then our awesome friend Charmain spoke and shared the gospel of salvation with the women and their families.

Next came the games :-) Our first game we lined them up into two lines and they had to pass a papaya through the entire line without using their hands!

There was more laughter, screaming, and jumping around than I thought 20 pregnant women were capable of! It was great watching them try to get their pregnant bellies out of the way enough to reach the papaya. They had so much fun!


The next game consisted of a partner, 2 blindfolds, and a banana. With each partner blindfolded, it was a race to see which team could feed their partner the banana the fastest. Once again...more laughing and screaming :-)

Once the games were finished, we gave an opportunity for any of the women to come up and share testimonies, memories, or something they learned during the class. Us "teachers" also had to say a few words. There were many lumps in the throat and tears that came with it....but I made it through ok. Then came the moment they all were waiting for. The diplomas and presents. The baby gift included a blanket, thermometer, disposable diaper, and outfit. (speaking of which we're looking for as many donations of these as possible!) This is Estella. She's pregnant with her 3rd child.

Once all of the graduates had gone through the line, we shared in fellowship and food....the only way to end a party! Once we thought everything was over, some of the women had a special surprise for us. They made up a dance!!! Afterwards, my cheeks hurt so bad from smiling!

I'm going to miss having these women in our class so much. A few of them asked if they could join the next class just so they could hang out with us...but we're coming up with a plan to have an evening each week where we go just to spend more time with them. Can't wait for that to start! What a beautiful group of women!!!


If you would like to donate some supplies for our next class and graduation...that would be wonderful! I'm home right now for Christmas but will be returning to Manila Jan 10. You can send stuff to 586 22nd Ave. St Paul, Ne 68873, email me at ldvorak11@yahoo.com, or call 308-246-5223 or 308-379-6276. A few of the needs are: baby clothes, baby blankets, thermometers, cloth diapers, pins....etc. Or you can send a financial gift to:

First Love International Ministries
2515 Highcrest Rd
Rockford, IL 61107

in the memo put "Dvorak Tanza"

GOD BLESS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

update on Mike Bucher: He is finally home from the hospital. They had to do surgery on his heart to put a Defibulator in. He will also be on medication permanently. Please pray for him and his family as they have massive medical bills to pay and will have to adjust to a lifestyle change. But thanks be to God for His grace in sparing Mike's life!

FRAULEIN LISA

Have you ever seen the movie "The Sound of Music"? If not its a must see. My siblings and I used to watch it a lot when we were younger. It's about a lady who goes to be a nanny (fraulein) for a single father with 6 children. Well, although I haven't been taking care of 6 children of a single father, I have been sharing the responsability with my friend Chelle of taking care of 4 little kiddos. Ethan is 10, Elle 8, Anna 6, Alex 5. Last Tuesday night I got a call from their mom and a great friend of mine, Natalie. She asked if I could come stay with her kids because she had to take her husband Mike to the hospital. It was something with his heart. When they got him to the hospital his heart rate was 250 where normal is around 80. They had to sedate him and shock his heart to bring it back down to normal. After many many tests and a week in the hospital, they have it figured out what is wrong. He has a hereditary disease that is causing the right side of his heart to beat faster than normal. So this Thursday they are doing surgery to put a defibulator in. That way when his heart tries to beat too fast it will give him a little shock to bring it back to normal. Natalie has been staying with him in the hospital so Chelle and I have gotten the privelage of spending time with their wonderful kids. And I must say dibs to all you moms out there... it's exhausting ;-) But I've been loving every minute of it. The Buchers are just like family to me here. Nat is my sister and I love her family so it's a blessing and joy being able to help them out. Please pray for Mike, Natalie, Ethan, Ellie, Anna, and Alex....and also for Chelle and I :-)


Here are some other families away from family.....

The Manthe Fam: Josh, Val, Mckenzie, Bella


The Clintons: Dave, Michele, Abi, Olivia


The Akers (also the family I'm living with) Roger, Tammy, Sam, Allison, Julia, Laura (they have 2 older kids inteh states)


And of course my sister, partner in crime, friend, confidant, dance partner, cell mate, fellow chocolate lover, and work out partner: Michelle (Chelle) Roop

THANKSGIVING, BIRTHDAY, MINISTRY

Long time no write huh? There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in a day. Or maybe I don’t put enough in the hours…time just seems to slip right by me. So much has happened since my last post….

Thanksgiving:
It was sooo wonderful. God has given me so much to be thankful for, more than I deserve. Our mission had Sunday before Thanksgiving meal at the school. Before we even dug into the food the power went out. So we had more of a Pilgrim Thanksgiving than we had planned on. But the candlelight gave us a more intimate feel for the evening. It’s sad having to eat food without really being able to see it. It takes half of the fun away. There are families and friends in my mission that have really become like true family to me here. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” Prv 27:17. I am being sharpened daily thanks to amazing women like Chelle, Val, Natalie, Michelle, and Kate.

They are such answers to prayer. Then on Thanksgiving night Josh and Val Manthe invited Chelle and I over for Thanksgiving dinner complete with the uncarved turkey on the table and everything. Val did such awesome work preparing everything. It was so beautiful and so wonederful to spend an important holiday with friends so close they are like family.

Birthday:
As of November 25, I officially became a quarter of a century old….yes 25!!!! Uuuugggghhhh! I keep telling myself I’m not getting older, I’m just aging like a fine wine ☺ My friend Chelle had a huge birthday celebration planned but wouldn’t share any of the details with me beforehand. The event consisted of my closest girlfriends and I getting all dolled up and spending an evening out, complete with Tiara and Magic Wand.

The night included food (lots), many birthday songs, laughs, and many hours of karaoke singing! As if that wasn’t enough, the next night she picked me up for one more birthday outing. She made some lame excuse about having to go back to her condo for something she forgot. I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. As I walked through her door the lights flipped on and I heard one loud “Surprise!” I am sad to admit that there were some tears that filled my eyes. (I’m so sappy) It was all an awesome gift from God. I had been praying God would show how much He loved me and how important I was to Him. He used my girls here to do exactly that. It was a birthday I’ll never forget.

Ministry:
Yay we had our 4th baby!!! Princess had a beautiful little boy. She had a few complications during the birth, but both are very healthy now.

We have one more week of lessons and then it will be graduation time!!! We will celebrate the graduation of this session on Dec. 10. It will include diplomas, gifts, food, and I’m sure many many tears. We will start our next session sometime in January.

This past Friday we had a midwife join us in Tanza. She was able to do prenatal checkups for our pregnant women that were there. It was such a huge blessing and we're praying to have either her or another midwife with us permanently next session.