The convention was very productive.  I am not much for standing around a display and masses of people, however I love telling people the story of the kids.  So many good contacts were made and nurtured and it amazed me to see people converging from all over the world into this one place for a few days.  Many nationalities were represented and the stories were inspiring. 

Yet, amidst all of this productivity and excitment...I couldn't help but wonder what the kids were doing right then.  What was Nastya doing while we slept in our plush hotel rooms and at at the Spagetti factory?   It is good to make new friends and partners.  Yet, at moments the noise would fade and in the quiet I could only see the eyes of those who are hopeless. 

Opening night I stood in the main session singing with my friends from Ukraine and I kept wishing Nastya was there with us...like she is when we visit Ukraine.   Winter is now creeping in.  The nights are getting colder.  And it appears funds are not coming in to remodel the rooms for fifteen kids to get off the streets.  So, it seems they will spend one more cold winter in the darkness.

Wow. I was lookiing at our 25th wedding anniversary video last night. We lived in Atlanta and had a wonderful home group with Tony & Donny and their families. Our good friends, David and Nanci Hendrix were there also. It was a rich time of blessing as the group prayed for us. We were on our way to the "Somewhere in Time" weekend on Mackinac Island. The problem was it was very dark for me back then. I was so frustrated wondering what my ministry was supposed to be. I was actually very depressed about it. Next weekend we celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary and I am wondering where that ten years went? However, today, I am at peace and settled into the ministry that was such a mystery to me back then. Thanks Lord! Working as an advocate for the kids -- is so much greater than all the ministry I have done in the past. Not to say that stuff wasn't good...it was great. This is greater than all the rest though.