"You have the dream team!"

My boss' description of the team of 3 people going with me to Manila couldn't be more accurate. Had I even known exactly who to ask, I couldn't have selected three better-suited individuals than the pastor, psychologist, and former missionary who have agreed to come with me to Manila to train the children's home leaders there. The former missionary founded the 2 "Lighthouse" children's homes; the psychologist has decades of experience training caregivers of at-risk children; and the pastor has visited these particular homes 10+ times and is excited to return to teach and encourage them. And me? I plan to be a sponge and soak up everything I can from these three extremely well-qualified, experienced, and gracious individuals. 

The four of us, Lord-willing, will facilitate a 5-day training seminar for the children's home staff. The purpose of the training is two-fold: 1) To encourage the staff in their personal relationship with the Lord and understanding of the gospel, and 2) To strengthen them vocationally to care for children, many of whom come with difficult baggage due to having experienced emotional and/or physical trauma.

If the thousands of orphaned children growing up in such homes see and hear a clear gospel taught and role-modeled, they will, Lord-willing, grow into strong ambassadors for God in places where foreigners cannot go. 

My hope is for this pilot training program in Manila to be mainstreamed for other children's homes around the world as a strategic way to care for needy children and advance the gospel in places where the Church is fledgling. Thank you, Lord, for these three very strong team members to help launch the vision!

The dates of our trip to Manila are October 18 - 28.