September Update

Serving the Shepherd, 

Loving His Lambs

PRAISES

¨ Home school year off to a great start.

¨ Lacy received her visa and is currently in England!

¨ Celebrated Molly’s 13th Birthday and Bella’s 7th birthday in September!

PRAYER REQUESTS

¨ Medical needs for Willy—He is in need of a check-up, blood work, and ultrasound with his kidney dr. to make sure his one functioning kidney is healthy. He also will be seeing an eye doctor to assess some problems with his eyes. Approximately $600 for these specialists.

¨ We are praying for more monthly supporters so we can continue to love on the orphans here in Guatemala.

One Body, Many Parts

I’ve read several devotions lately that have to do with the body of Christ. It is always reaffirming to me when I read the scripture in 1 Corinthians. Our gifting and our callings are never going to look like everyone else’s . Each of us has our own unique calling and our own unique abilities but each one has the same importance in the body of Christ.

So, we continue to obey our calling and our mandate to love on, take care, and give a home to orphans. If you would like to be a part of what God is doing here, we are in NEED of more monthly supporters. We are so thankful for our supporters that have followed their calling to share God’s love with orphans.  But in order to grow and continue to love on God’s precious children, we need more help!! If God lays our ministry on your heart, you can give through CTEN (information on side bar.) Thank you! 

 Here’s a few pictures of what “our calling” has looked like this month!

Who doesn't love relaxing in a ball pit?

Ana Celia loves to play ball.

This little sweetie decided to do Kaylee's hair.

We loved having Alia serving with us this summer!

 Sensory Play

Sensory play is a big part of what we do at every orphanage we serve in. It is crucial to the healing and developing of each precious child we work with. Playing in sand or with instruments, bouncing balls or stacking cups—so many different activities to stimulate brains. God is so good to give us opportunities to play, be joyful, and enjoy His creation—all while energizing the minds of these sweet little ones that He has beautifully created!

 Family Update

 

Fun at the zoo for Bella's birthday!

 We’ve had a busy few months. We moved houses in July, wished Alia well as she left for her senior year at Johnson and planned and began our home school year in August.  Noah is a senior this year, Molly is in 8th grade, Kaylee is in 5th grade, and Bella is in 2nd. Willy began preschool, as well. Lacy is now in England!  Everyone is growing up!

Independence Day in Guatemala!

We were privileged to join one of the children’s home where we serve in their annual “Torch Run” for Independence Day. This is a tradition that takes place around Sept. 15 every year. Many different groups take to the streets to celebrate with LOTS of noise! Whistles, car horns, yelling—anything that makes a lot of noise. The leader of each parade has a torch that usually is lit by the mayor of the town. It is also tradition for bystanders to throw water on the people marching, although our group didn’t encounter this. It was great fun to join in this cultural experience!

 For His Glory,

The Norton Family

Carl, Lisa, Lacy, Alia, Noah, Molly, Kaylee, Arabella and Willy

Good-bye, Summer!

This marks our last weekend of “summer break!” Like many of you, on Monday we will start back to school. I’ve been busy planning and preparing for the start of our home school year. The newness of a school year always excites me! Willy and I will begin our first year of preschool together! Bella will be 2^nd grade and Kaylee in 5^th grade.  Molly is beginning her 8^th grade year and will be using a new online home school option. And Noah is a senior!! What in the world?? Lots of new opportunities at our house!

Our last adventure of the summer: a trip to the pools! 

 As our children get older though, it is also a hard time because it signifies the beginning of another semester apart from our older kiddos. Alia left this morning to return to Johnson University for her senior year. This year also signified the first year that Lacy was “all grown up” and didn’t get to spend the summer in Guatemala with us. (We did have a great visit with her in FL in May, though!) This mama’s emotions are all over the place today! Starting preschool, 2^nd, 5^th, 8^th grade, senior in college, senior in high school and did I mention there is an upcoming wedding?!?! AARRGH!!! I’m going to need a lot of tissues!!

The summer has been filled with lots of loving on children. We continued our weekly visits to all the children’s homes and were glad to have Alia’s arms to hug some babies, too! We were able to go with our friend, Naomi, to see the land she is purchasing to expand her children’s home for special needs girls. It was a special time of prayer and vision!

 We also spent a couple days at House of Hope loving on the babies there. This little guy especially captured my heart! He was severely malnourished and weighed only 5 pounds when he came! He is doing much better and gaining weight and loves to be snuggled! While the rest of the family helped feed the toddlers lunch, I stayed back and cuddled this little one and spent some time praying over each child at the home. What peace filled my heart!!

It has been about a year since we first met this little guy. The “then and now” photos speak for themselves. It is such an incredible privilege to work with these babies every week; to sing to them, to play with them, to tell them how much God loves them, and to see their sweet smiles.  The care that these babies get at Village of Hope is phenomenal! To see alertness where there was not any, to see head control when before their body was too malnourished to have strength, to see smiles where there were tears, to see a child wanting to explore where before there was fear. How these precious little lambs bless us every time we are with them!

 

THEN

NOW