October 2016
Greetings from Sierra Leone!
This year has been wildly exciting compared to the
dark days of Ebola in 2014-15! PRAISE THE LORD that we are back to normal, if
anything in this unique place could ever be called normal! :)
Throughout January, there was eager anticipation as we
prepared for The 25 Project teams in February and March to conduct youth camps
for former street boys in Waterloo and Auntie Margaret’s orphans in Grafton!
Several boys were requesting to be baptized since we have had years of
discipleship and follow-up to previous camps. In March, 12 of the boys, as well
as 2 among our volunteer leadership, stepped into the water to be baptized in a
lagoon at one of Sierra Leone’s many breathtaking beaches! It was truly a day
of celebration!!
April (Jubilee Community Church, UK) and June (FBC
McKinney & GoSendMe Global) teams had a construction focus, but as with any
team, it’s all about relationships!!
They had the opportunity to encourage street boys, orphans and the very
special kiddos of Hosetta School, as well as the men who work with Tom, and in
our compound! We look forward to our final team of 2016 set to arrive next
week!
For us personally, the long-awaited day came in July
when with a notice of only 11 days from US Immigration Services, we hopped on a
plane for Texas for our son Bo’s interview and swearing-in ceremony as a US
Citizen! What a beautiful story God has been weaving into his life since we
first met him in January 2011!
Plans are underway to expand the work with street boys
to a fishing village a few miles beyond Waterloo, and changes are taking place
at Auntie Margaret’s as the older kiddos are aging out of the foster care
system! We ask for your prayers as we seek to make wise decisions for all!
For Sierra Leone, we ask for your prayers as this
country is struggling through an economic crisis. Some international reports
are suggesting that the country is bankrupt which may very well be true. What
this means for us and those we serve is that prices are rising at an alarming
rate on food items, transportation, educational expenses, building supplies,
etc… For example, the cost of rice has gone up 36% in the last 5 months! There
are fewer jobs, lower wages and an increase in criminal activity because so
many are finding themselves in desperate situations. Our hearts hurt as we
watch people we love wonder where their next meal is going to come from, and we
are in prayer daily as to how we will continue to provide for those we
serve when the local currency is losing value weekly.
We THANK YOU for lifting us up to the Lord! THE KEY to
any and every success we have in Sierra Leone will always be the faithful prayers
of God’s people!
For those who keep us on the field through your
financial gifts, may our dear Father bless you as only He can! You have our
deepest gratitude!
It’s all for the Kingdom!
Tom and Becky
FACEBOOK: Becky Brockelman
Contributions:
Please
make checks payable to:
First Baptist Church
On the
memo line: “TYW05 Brockelman”
Mail
to:
FBC
McKinney
1615 W
Louisiana St
McKinney,
TX 75069
Online
gifts:
Choose
from the options for giving
Drop
down box select: TYW05/Brockelman
