Four days...me and the kids.

Brandi is leaving in the morning for Atlanta, she is speaking Friday through Monday at four events. We are hoping to see close to 300 hundred children sponsored this weekend. The team has been working so hard. I pray that this weekend goes well and that God uses this weekend to bring much needed sponsorship to Adecar and Mangweneni.

Well, that leaves me with the three kids this weekend...It's always a mixed blessing to have 4 days with the kids. I really do enjoy the time that I get with them. The problem is that it's 4 days, and there is only so many things that you can do when its 25 degrees outside. We got a few things planned and have been invited to a couple new friends homes for dinner. We'll see how it goes.

I would love some ideas of things to do...remember easy and cheap!

On a separate note, I am preparing for a trip next month to Durban, South Africa and to Swaziland. My trip to Durban is pretty exciting, we (HopeChest) have received a grant from Focus on the Family USA to start an orphan care ministry in conjunction with Focus on the Family South Africa.

This is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with a organization that has had a presence on the ground in South Africa for many years. I will be spending several days with the Focus team and training them on the unique aspects of HopeChest's CarePoint ministry. We will be visiting several potential CarePoint sites and beginning the process of site development plans that will aid future church and connect community partners as they look to build out their CarePoints.

The team from Focus and I will be traveling to Swaziland to see some of our more mature CarePoints. HopeChest has a partnership with Adventures in Missions (AIM) in Swazi. They are a strong operations partner and the staff on the ground love the children of Swazi and work tirelessly to see the needs of the orphan met.

I am eager to see what's in store as we further our ministry in Swazi and begin this new partnership with Focus South Africa.

Greg