"How is your support coming along?" is probably the most repeated question we hear.  In fact, if we had a dollar for every time someone asked, "How is your support coming along?" we'd be at full support and on the mission field.  Don't get me wrong, it's not that we mind answering this question.  I love it when people express an interest in our ministry to children impacted by HIV and AIDS, and I love talking about it.  We deeply appreciate those who are already committed to help.  (Please don't stop asking!).  But more than talking about it, I want to be doing it.  I'm anxious to be part of their lives, to teach them, guide them, to love them.

 The 120 children at Lily of the Valley Children’s Village are real kids with real lives and real needs.  And those needs won’t wait forever, they are growing up. There were photos in the Lily of the Valley Christmas newsletter.  We recognize some of the children in those photos that we met during our visit in February 2011.  How they have grown!  We feel like we are missing so much of their childhood.

Lily Girls at the teenagers' retreat-  2012
 
We know that God has called us to minister to these children as house parents; and we’re reminded that when we meet the needs of the least of these we are ministering to Jesus himself (Matthew 25:40).  We know that once 80% of our support has been raised we will be able to attend cross cultural training and begin travel arrangements to move to South Africa and begin that ministry.
 
But meanwhile; we see time and opportunity slipping away.  We see the children getting older, moving closer to the inevitable day when they will leave the protection of Lily of the Valley Children’s Village and the family that it provides.  When that day comes, will they be ready?  And what will we have done to help prepare them for the many dangers and the opportunities that they will face? Will some of the older teens be gone by the time we get there? How might we, with your support, have impacted their young lives for Jesus Christ?  And then there is the question of our own children.  Ellie and Eden want to be part of this ministry too, but they are juniors in high school and will graduate next year.  Will they miss this opportunity to serve with us in loving the orphans of South Africa?

So whenever someone asks, “How’s your support coming along?” I also hear “How much longer before those children learn what 'daddy' means?"  Dear Lord, is this how you want it to be? Shouldn’t we be there by now?

We are at 37% of our needed monthly support. The remaining portion left to raise  is $4000 per month. That works out to 30 partners at $100 per month and 20 partners at $50 per month. $100, that’s a monthly cable bill or those cool boots on sale after Christmas.  $50 is  an evening at the movies for a family of four, a pair of not-so-fancy shoes, or a tank of gas. Yes, a sacrifice but worth it to impact a child (or 120 children) for Jesus!

“How’s your support coming along?”  We deeply appreciate those who are helping us answer that question, as we have indeed seen an increase in promised support lately. But we need more partners, and would love to hear from you if you would like to let us know of your interest to join with us.

 Thank you,
Mike, Lori, Eliana, and Eden
- The Rosenbauers