BACK IN THE USA-California
We are in the United States dropping our daughter off at college! While here we have the privilege of presenting the Davis Lar at our home, Southwest Community Church, on Friday, August 26th. Come see us at 6:30 in Room 200. Pray for our presentation-that the mission and vision will be communicated to receptive hearts.  Along with an update on the Davis Lar, learn what Southwest Missions are doing in Brazil, Argentina and Uganda.

Long Haul for the Lar 
Taylor and Donnie Doolittle are biking their way across America with a goal to raise $5 per mile on their trek to donate to the orphanage. Visit them at Bike Lar to follow their progress.  Donate on their site through PayPal!

My favorite line from their updates: Donnie and I are currently staying with an awesome family in Eugene, OR, resting our bodies and reevaluating the pounds and pounds of gear that we brought.  :)  Pray for their continued safety, strength and tenacity as they Bike for the Lar!

Summer Fun!
What a summer we have had! The following churches blessed the Davis Lar: 

            FBC Lebanon - Lebanon, Missouri - They brought Bible studies and maintenance to the Lar. They started the rebeautification of the Davis Lar by painting the kiosk, dining hall and outside of the main building. They spent quality time with our house moms. Then, they built the Lonnie Hulsey Memorial basketball Court! It was great to see old friends and incredible to see how our kids remember you all. 

            Mission Baptist Church - Charlotte , North Carolina -First time visitors! Refurbished bicycles, cooked cupcakes, led recreation, arts and crafts, and presented Bible studies. We also had a wonderful Fourth of July!! We thank you for your continued support as you collect plastic sheets and other necessary items! 

            Brushy Creek Baptist Church - Taylors, South Carolina - First time visitors! A group of 27 senior high school students, the Brushy Creek Team returned VBS to Aracas. In conjunction with the Davis Lar and Conexao Alegria, we had over 100 children participate in Vacation Bible School. They then painted in the afternoons, helped start the vegetable garden in Aracas, counted beans, and led youth Bible Studies and activities in the evenings.  

            Bounty Land Baptist Church - Seneca, South Carolina - The Schrader's team focus is sustainable skill training. Specific students were targeted for wood working and painting. In addition, they cooked with each home, updated all of our children's scrap-books, and added details to our house painting, including a Clemson Tiger Paw. (Gamecocks are welcomed, as is a USC Trojan!) Check out the finishing touches on the newly painted houses as inspired by Eddie's painting classes.

            Interns - This summer we had a bunch of extra hands. The time ranged from 1 - 2 months.

Taylor- A special shout out to Taylor Wellman as she led the drive to continue the painting (6 houses), getting the local youth involved. Recreation was also a strength. She has been back home less than a month and has already collected three boxes of donations.

Steve - Fixed cars, washing machines, stoves, etc. - WE COULD USE MORE VISITS FOCUSED ON FIXING STUFF.  BTW- he is coming back!

Matt - Our son came back to visit and helped in all areas, including translation, working in the vegetable garden, being a liaison for a soccer camp and filling in where needed. He enjoyed burning trash!

Rachel -Translating Bible Studies and working where needed the summer before starting college at NGU! Her love of theater came in handy.

Katherine - Planned and built a vegetable garden, painting, child care and Duck Duck Goose Extreme.

Amanda Lee - Hands and feet, child care, filling in where needed.

Christina- Cheer Leading, child care, filling in where needed.

Niesha - Getting dirty!! Playing anywhere and everywhere, staying involved in all areas. 

And of course our two long termers - 

Mark Eisenhower and Melissa Stoltzfus - English, computers and big time support in all areas.

Prayers and Praises

• Praise for Raised Support and Participation 

Praise for an up-tick in US donations. With the drop in the dollar, the value of donations had gone down while the dollar amount stayed steady. Donations through Taylor's First Baptists and Southwest Community churches increased this month!!  Due to confidentiality laws, we cannot know exactly who did what, but are trying to find out.  THANK YOU ALL!!! 

Praise God for the increased support and donations that are coming from the Brazilian nationals.   We are seeing more businesses and churches become involved with their time and finances. Donated food is at an all time high and this helps us as we balance our budget. We thank God for bringing Ivone Moreira into the Davis Lar Organization. She is our administrative assistant and she is out beating the bushes and working hard finding these people and "encouraging" them to participate in this worthy ministry.