Well, I have been here for awhile.  It is so great to be "home".  I especially love the weather.  Being from the desert I am a warm weather man.  While most of the Brazilians around me are complaining about this extraordinarily hot season, after going through my first winter in a long time, I think I landed in paradise.  It is very warm.

Amazing after only 6 months how much kids grow.  They all look so good.  I can't believe how tall some of them have gotten. 

It is great to finally see Davis Lar II open in Eusebio.  The land is cleared up and Carlos is starting to work with the boys making a vegetable garden.  We received a partnership/grant from a Brazilian business , Aço Cearense, and with a part of this we will expand the vegetable production.  The boys are in the local school and enjoying their new local church.  Penha and Carlos are administrating there in the second boys home temporarily.  Pray with us as we need to build an apartment/office for them to move into so that we can have another home open for more adolescent boys.

The day after I got back we had a finance meeting with the accountant, Pr. Marcos (President), administration and myself.  We thank you as the hole I spoke about last newsletter is starting to be filled up.  We have a ways to go, but the movements of the Lord's people both in the U.S. and Brazil has brought a calming to the situation.  We are still regrouping and making cuts where we can and resisting any type of growth that would raise costs.  Pray with us as we jump this hurdle so we can get on and grow in the areas where we are still weak.

One of our biggest problems or needs at this point is transportation.  The kombis are breakdown more often and costing more each time.  They are at the point, or have been for a while, that they need to be replaced.  We are using just one as one is in the shop.  It is needed to go to Fortaleza and do school runs.  Because Fortaleza is so far away and we have medical exams in the city, donations to pick up, the kombi is being stretched beyond its capabilities.  We have 5 kids that require a special school in Fortaleza.  They are special needs.  When the county transportation doesn't show up, fairly often, we have to take them so we don't lose the spots.  Here are some ways we are praying:

·         Economy of trips to the city.  We need to get the doctor's visits more consolidated and efficient.

·         A new transition home in the city for the special needs kids we have and the ones to come.  Putting them closer and in an environment where we can give them better attention.  This would also benefit the other two facilities' population, Davis Lar I & II.

·         A smaller, newer 5-6 seat car would be more economical and practical for the city runs.  Thus leaving the Kombis to stay within the school areas. 

Thanks again for your prayers and support of the Davis Lar and the Andersons.  You guys are awesome.

Mark