You may remember that we have two girls that help here in the house. Belle and Neva do the cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, and most errands. (If you're wondering what I do, that's for another day!) They are a huge blessing to me personally and to our family. They are also my greatest ministry opportunity as day after day we live life together here at home. They see how we treat our boys, how we interact with each other as a couple, and how we do our ministry. They see our faults and hopefully also our hearts.

Let me tell you just a bit about them... Belle is married to Glen and they have a 3-year-old daughter, Ashley. They live with Belle's parents and her cousin and his family-- 11 people in the house. Her husband has been looking for work, but hasn't been able to find anything that pays enough to support them, so he is home with Ashley. Last week Ashley asked Belle if my boys are really her kids because she spends so many hours at work. Breaks my heart that she is even here, but I know she has to work and this is a better place for her than she would find elsewhere.

Neva is girl from one of the locations where NTM works. She is the second-youngest of 6 kids and the only person in her family who is currently working for pay. Her parents are subsistence farmers and sell small amounts of rice to buy the most essential things. Her parents are an elder couple in their local church and passionate about God. They are thrilled that Neva is workign with us and are concerned about her welfare as she lives in town far from family and friends. Medical problems and other needs often come to Neva and she has to decide how to respond. Although she is 22, she seems young. Neva didn't have the opportunity to study past grade-school and would like to get an education. This morning she told me that she may be able to take Saturday classes!

Both girls are believers, but life often seems to get the best of them (so much like the rest of us!). I wish often that I had the language to talk them at a more heart level.