To my subscribers, I apologize for the double-posting the other day. One of those “pre-scheduling” issues. As an update, however, our penpal ministry has grown, which is exciting. You may remember when I talked about the jewelry the orphan girls from San Miguel, El Salvador made. I’m still waiting to hear back from a couple of organizations who I hope will partner with us as we seek ways to help these girls finds ways to be self-sustaining, but in the meantime, our church sold their jewelry to its members and sent the money to Remar San Miguel. Antonio, the orphanage “father” sent pictures via FB showing these girls in wonderful new school uniforms purchased with the jewelry proceeds. It’s amazing how far money goes down in El Salvador! We’re gearing up to go again in January. This time one of our team members wondered if we might want to teach the girls to crochet knapsacks. So, we’re thinking about it. Of course, we team members need to learn how to crochet first. What’s that they say about the blind leading the blind? Oy! But where there’s a will, there’s a way, right?

In the meantime, I’m on chapter seven of a new novel centered around El Salvador. The research is intense, on a heart level. But even as much of it breaks my heart, I’m also very encouraged because I believe long-term positive change is possible. As I mentioned before, I’m not trying to change the world, but I would like to drastically change life for someone. As the saying goes, each one reach one, right? On Friday our family’s meeting with a group from our church’s orphan ministry to discuss ways in which we can do just that.

I’d also like to invite you to join me at Laura Kurk’s blog where I share a short story very near and dear to my heart. About ten years back, while having a very rough day (uh, rough month, perhaps?), a friend called out of the blue.  Another friend sent me a card with Scripture that spoke specifically to what I was dealing with. As I thought about God’s tender mercies and how He often loves us through others, I wondered…what if the friend who called decided not to call that night? What if my other friend never tucked the card in the mail?

Now, I believe God’s Sovereign and would’ve reached out to me in some other way, but I still consider the question whenever I feel God nudging me to make a phone call, write a letter, send an email, or make a visit. What if the person God is sending me to is crying out to Him right at that moment? This story, posted on Laura Kurk’s blog, asks that very question.

Before I go, I’d like you to join me and five other ladies for a modern-day, “meet at the well” experience on Facebook. At Living by Grace, each day we’ll post devotions that will be used to launch into discussions. Our vision is that this Facebook community would become a faith-focused, “Cheers” experience. You remember the theme song? “Where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came….”

I want to thank Eileen Rife, Gail Pallotta, Phyllis Wheeler, Salena Storm, and Yvonne Blake for helping us spread the word!

On Thursday, I’ll share more about this new faith-Facebook community. I hope you’ll join us!