Changes
As I sit here this morning to write the update, the word that keeps running through my mind is change. I am trying to think of all the different things that God is doing in our midst these days. I begin to see all the changes that are happening. The kids are constantly growing bigger. One of our girls, Mai, is getting so close to walking! Our first baby house is getter closer each day to being finished. It is amazing to see the second house continue to go up. New staff seem to continue joining our work here while we say goodbye to familiar faces that have been with us for months.
God is definitely blessing us as we continue to do His work. It is not very hard to look around and see His hand in everything that we do. As you read the remainder of this email, please continue to consider if and how God would like to use you in this ministry.
Hope
All of our children here have regular check-ups. Hope, the child who has been with us the longest, had her routine checks a couple weeks ago. During that most recent check the result came back that her CD4 count had dropped from 28 to 14. The CD4 test is done to see how far the HIV has spread. This test measures the number of CD4 cells (also known as T-helper cells) in the blood and assesses the status of the immune system. CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell that fight infection, and they play an important role in the immune system. As the HIV virus gets into the cell and replicates, the number of CD4 cells in the blood gradually declines. As HIV disease progresses, the CD4 count will go down and as treatment reduces the progression, the CD4 count will go back up.
Since Hope’s count was low that time, she had to have a series of tests done to see if she had TB. After three days, the tests came back negative. Now this week Hope will go back again to see if her CD4 count is back up. If it is not about 15, then she will be put on ARV (antiretroviral) medication.
Please continue to pray for Hope throughout these hospital visits. Continue to pray for her health and her healing. Hope is so strong and we know that God is all around here. Please stand with us in prayer for all of our children.
Construction Continues~
Towards the end of this past year, construction began on our first baby home. Many of you have seen through past updates that construction is moving along. I just heard this week that we hope the first house to be finished within one month. At the same time as we were working on this first house, money was given to begin construction on the second house. All of us here are amazed at the work that God is providing for and doing among us. However the work is not finished yet and we are still waiting on Him to provide the rest of the money needed to finish both of these houses. With these new houses completed we will be able to meet our current needs more efficiently and prepare for needs in the future.
If you feel God asking you to be involved in these projects, please contact us through the contact information at the end of this newsletter. Continue to read future newsletters and check our website for updates on these projects and all.
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