Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Work I Go!!!

So I started my official position in the office this week. It has been filled with meetings, meetings, meetings. And although those are not the funnest things in the world, they were necessary for taking care of current issues and for planning the goals of Beautiful Gate for 2011. Ray has come up with an extensive list of goals, but I beleive that we can get a lot of them (if not all) completed by the end of the year. It will be challenging but fun. I have also been informed that I will be attending the conference of all the Beautiful Gates (there are four) that is to take place in Cape Town, South Africa. I am really looking forward to that, as I have wanted to take a trip there to see the penguins anyway. Now, we can take the kids with us and do a little sight seeing in the evenings, after the meetings of course.

I also had a chance to see a child that is still in the hospital (if I can call it a hospital) that is recovering from serious injuries that were sustained while it was abandoned in the wild. It was heart wrenching to see this little boy, but I look forward to the day the he joins us at Beautiful Gate. Then, he will get the love and attention that he needs. He is the reason that Beautiful Gate exists.... to help "the least of these." We are so blessed in America that we very rarely have to see anything like this.

We have also had the priveledge of having an adoptive parent stay with us, as the child was still recovering from flu-like symptoms. It has been a pleasure to watch the bonding process first hand. The mother cannot take her eyes off her new child. It really is fun watching these new families being formed. And, we will have the pleasure of seeing many more in the near future. A lot of the kids have been matched to families and now the fun part of the adoption process will begin for those parents. God must have known that we would need to start off with a lot of happy times :)

The kids are adjusting very well. In fact, Elijah has become an honorary part of the maintenace crew here at Beautiful Gate. He loves helping them with weeding the garden, sweeping the shop, etc. etc. Faith is enjoying her schoolwork that Anita does with her, and Mercy is enjoying the freedom of running through the puddles (it has rained a lot lately). The home schooling supplies are supposed to arrive soon, and then the REAL school work will begin for the kids. It will be interesting to see the adjustment that the kids will have at that time. And Anita too, as their teacher.

Thanks again for all your love, prayers and support!
Bryan
P.S. Some of you may receive some mail that is postmarked from California. We are having a new friend from California (who was just recently at Beautiful Gate) send out some mail for us. It will save us money and also mailing time. Thanks Casey!