We have a new library!!

BEFORE -- 5 weeks ago.










Waldeena, one of our volunteers here from Canada, in charge of cataloging about 900 books. It was quite a task!

NEW SHELVES! They took about 3 weeks to make. And Bertha restocking them, about a week ago.

Inessa, our lovely muralist, volunteering here for two weeks from Australia.

Tada!!! What a change, eh?

Joel dedicating the library to God. Our verse is Isaiah 55:10-12
"¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
   come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
   without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
   so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
   It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
   and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
¹² You will go out in joy
   and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
   will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
   will clap their hands.

photo compliments of Bob

Whoah, check out that library! Now scroll back up to the before picture. God is good. Mackenzie and I had a lot of fun helping out with the project. Mackenzie helped do some cataloging and painting. I helped choose the color scheme. It has been really cool to see how the Lord has orchestrated this whole thing. When we cam to the school, there were LOTS of new books that had been recently donated. Prior to that, our book collection was severely lacking. So, new books. However, the library was dark and scummy. Mackenzie and I spent a lot of time in there the first couple of weeks we were here helping organizing books and stuff, and we noticed that we were getting bitten SO MUCH, the room had lots of bugs because I think they were hiding out in the books or something. It was NOT a place that you would want to read books in. Money had been raised for the book renovation project, so we installed new windows and got an air conditioner (bye-bye-bugs!). Now look at it! A group of volunteers from Canada needed some things to do (perfect timing!) and so they began building us shelves and painting the walls and re cataloging books. Then we heard a muralist was coming to town! I mean, the whole thing, happened with perfect, God orchestrated timing. It just amazes me so much to see the transformation of this room.

Photo compliments of Bob

This is most of our staff with our volunteers. This picture, however, is missing a very important person! Her name is Rhoda, and she was the one who really spear-headed this project (through God's guidance). She was the one who raised all of the money and organized the whole project! Now we have a new library. Rhoda is such a lovely, beautiful person. I am glad to know her.

Mackenzie, Emma and I think we should give ALL of the rooms an uplift. We are praying.

Photo compliments of Bob

Our Canadian volunteers. They were such a joy to have! Truly a highlight to my time here.

AND THE FINISHED MURAL!!!! Inessa is so talented and she has been such a blessing to Mackenzie and I in so many ways -- we are so glad to have her staying at our house. Inessa has this almost aura about her where she can walk into a room a lighten it up by just a few words. She is very thoughtful. I can see the fruits of the spirit in her :)