Delgado

We always pray that those we love will have or find a good, positive friend in their life. A godly friend who will influence them for good and right. Especially with young people, this is so vital. Friends become counselors, confidants, they can even become more influential for periods of time than our closest family.

God has answered SO many prayers in the last 53 days. We read early on that Tyler was making some friends on Parris Island, but some weeks ago he started talking about one guy in particular. This guy, he said, "is an artist and a musician" like him (as he put it). He said he's pretty cool, he's from New York and he's a Christian who plays the guitar for his church's worship team. He said their worship services are contemporary like ours. Tyler felt a connection and he continues to mention him often when he writes. This week we learned his name is Delgado and he grew up in the Bronx. He talks about them reading the bible together and even references certain passages that he has read himself or with Delgado and how the Lord "says some pretty cool things" to him! And, he says "it's so different now" when he reads the bible. May I just say, "HALLELUJAH!" (You can say it with me!) :) God is SO good!

In his letter today, he asked prayer for Delgado's mom. He says she had some recent surgery and something has gone wrong. Her eyesight has gotten really bad (although the surgery didn't have anything to do with her eyes) and the doctors said she could possibly lose her sight. That's all we know but please lift her up to the Lord with me and may the God of our salvation bring healing and full recovery! Amen? Amen! Let's believe that together!

Tomorrow is another hurdle to jump according to the bootcamp-training schedule. The guys "qualify" on the rifle range. They've spent the last two weeks learning and practicing how to shoot an M16. Tomorrow is test day. They have to score a 190 out of 250 to graduate, but Tyler is going for the gold…Sharpshooter or expert Marksman! May the Lord grant His blessings on all he puts his hand to (Deuteronomy 15:10; 28:8).

News on Grace: We've just finished updating our homestudy and our immigration forms that are about to expire. Hopefully we won't have to do that again before the trip to China. There has been rumor for some time that the Olympics in Beijing this fall has something to do with the excessive slowdown on adoption processes in that country. Who can know for sure, but China doesn't like a lot of attention drawn to that part of their culture (the fact that hundreds of thousands of babies are orphaned and sent out of their country) and when the World news is flashing their direction they like to lay low. I'm wondering if the earthquake and all the devastation they are facing as of this week will affect proceedings. We continue to pray.