Finlayson Newsletter
February 2, 2002
Hello and Happy New Year to all of You:
Well, it is hard to believe that 2003 is behind us and 2004 almost into
it's second month. We had another good year.
God has blessed us with 41 precious
children. We consider each one to have been placed at HOPE, done so
by careful planning of our Father. Because of this, we take the challenge
of caring for them very seriously. Some of them were half grown when we
took them and we did not know at that point to what extent we could
influence them for Christ but the changes we have seen in our oldest
children are remarkable. I will soon be studying the Bible with Natasha
15 and her sister Amanda 13 1/2. These girls have made some leaps and
bounds over the past 2 1/2 years and are mature enough now to make a
decision about their soul and their relationship with God. They are
beautiful girls, both inside and out and are a big help around the house.
Please pray for them that they will continue to grow & mature but more
importantly that they will make the decision to put on Christ in baptism.
There are a few children that we have had you praying for throughout the
past year and I would like to offer a few short words to bring you up to
date on them.
Aaron spent several days in 2
different hospitals and was taken to several doctors 8 times last year.
Finally, an US Air Force physician examined him and told us that he has a
hernia. He encouraged us to get it fixed as soon as possible but when I
took him to the "hernia surgeon" that is highly recommended here, he
takes one look at him and says, "this boy doesn't have a hernia". Well,
you know who I believe. At any rate, he hasn't had any more attacks.
Please continue to keep him in your prayers.
Angela, Shawn and Junior were so pitiful when they came to us. They were
scared, hungry, Angela had a broken arm that had not been treated. They
had lice and the dirt was layered on so that it took us several weeks to
get it all off. The changes in just 2 weeks were unbelievable. Shawn
still doesn't talk but he interacts with the other children much more
than before. He's happy and he's learning. We are in our 3rd week of sign
language class and this class was developed because of him. Although I've
had his hearing tested -- I am not convinced that he doesn't have some
degree of deafness. Such a sweet child. God again has showered his
blessings on HOPE. I was put in contact with several different Diplomats
and/or Spouses of Diplomats in Georgetown. They are all very interested
in what we are doing at HOPE and are helping in different ways. One of
those contacts is from the UK and has a friend, Anita, who is a
professional counselor there who is in much demand. She works a great
deal with autistic children and children with speech problems. She has
asked her company to take on HOPE and they have to some degree agreed to
help her help us! She will be coming in a couple of months to do some
teaching/training and also to work with some of children. I'm so very
excited about this opportunity. My friend from the UK that is here in
Guyana comes twice a week to start working with some of the children that
Anita will work intensely with when she comes over. She is also giving 5
of the children of HOPE and 2 of my children computer lessons.
Dominic is such a wonderful blessing to HOPE and we are so thankful that
God chose us to take care of him. We took him October 15th and he has
been in and out of the hospital(s) 5 times since then. He's had his ups
and downs and at one point we did not think he would make it. He was just
so starved that his little body did not know what to do with all the
nutrition that was made available to him. I am glad to report that he is
doing so WONDERFUL at this point. That is not to say that he will not be
in the hospital next week because this little guy can fall so low in 24
hours that it is incredible. We took him in October when he was 14 months
and 5 pounds. He is now 17 months and weighed 10 1/4 pounds the last time
he was weighed about a month ago. Please continue to pray daily for him.
God is so faithful and we put our trust in him.
We were blessed again in 2004 by the
purchase of land to build a permanent home for HOPE. This land is
located just across the dam of our current building. We have about 2
acres there to build a home that will be separated into two parts. One
for the boys and the other for girls. January isn't complete yet and we
have already turned away 5 children. The hardest to turn away was a
little 6 year old girl who has been severely sexually abused. I just do
not have the space to take on another big child. We are so excited about
this new building project and have already started raising funds so that
we can complete this home as soon as possible. The Church at Enmore has
been so gracious to us allowing us to use their building without rent for
5 years. Three incredible years have passed by so quickly. It will take
everyday of the next two years to raise funds, build and furnish this new
home. We are depending on you and people you may know to help us build
this much needed facility. Folks, the need for homes that are properly
staffed and who have systems put in place for caring for children are
great in Guyana. This is not to mention homes that will love the children
unconditionally and provide for their mental & Spiritual well being as
well as their physical. Pray for this project and I know and trust that
God will bless us.
God is so good and He looks after His children. God knows that we have
operated a home for 41 children without the space for them to run and
play the way that children are suppose to. He has put us in contact with
a most gracious man from California who has blessed HOPE with the funds
to purchase some of the land that is next to our future building site for
a play ground. We HOPE to develop a basketball court and soccer field as
well as putting in place playground equipment. We have located the owner
of the land in England but have not heard as yet if they are willing to
sell this land. That would be the idea spot for this playground but if
not, the land directly behind our Church building is also up for sale.
Please pray that God will lead us to the one that He knows is best for
HOPE. Thanks, John!!
Well, there is plenty more I could write about but these few short words
have turned into a novel! Sorry about that but I wanted to bring you up
to date on all that we have been asking you to pray for. May God bless
you. May He bless HOPE and our efforts to restore hurting children back
to a state of trusting, love and safety.
Because of His children,
Samantha Finlayson