Part 2 from Chad

Part 2

As sabbath came to a close we had made plans to open our home up to all of the SMs.  We wanted to make sure that they had a home away from home for the holiday.  We put up a small Christmas tree and lights to set the mood.  We had all kinds of treats laid out on the table.  Chocolate covered pretzels, chocolates, cookies, cake, sushi, popcorn and pizza.  We wanted this to be a real party for them.  We invited them to come and have a sleepover.  The eating and Christmas movie marathon continued all night and I finally gave up at 2:00 am.  In between the movies we played games including a tradition we have in our family and that is Christmas BINGO.  I had several items that I picked out and wrapped as gifts for the winners.  It was played as a white elephant gift game where you can take someones gift or open a new one.  We played this for quite a while and many of them loved it.  In between all the fun the electricity went out just as a reminder to where we are.  Jamie grabbed his keys and ran right over to turn on the generator.  When you go to do this you are entering the pre operating room and so he had to remove his shoes.  He goes on in and has to get up on something to check if something else needs to be reset.  When he did this he lost his balance and stepped back and right on to a piece of an old surgery table.  A piece of this "U" shaped metal went all the way up into his foot and he had to pull it out.  He made it back to the house where Danae tried to clean it up but the wound was so deep and painful that she couldn't irrigate it very well.  Jamie is already on antibiotics because he had a cough that we have been concerned about.  I hope this will help him out with this wound and infection that is so difficult to fight here.  Keep him in prayer for he is in a lot of pain.


Christmas morning all the SMs went out to the SM building to open their stockings that Danae made for them and then the two of us filled.  Chad is probably the only place that you can have toilet paper in your stocking and be excited about it.  While they were out there spending time doing that it gave our family time to open our gifts and share special time alone.  After a family prayer we had open house again for all the SMs get ready for a special breakfast that a few of the volunteers worked really hard on.  Everyone was given a menu that had a list of things like Santa's sleigh or Baby it's cold outside or my favorite was Abominable snowman poo.  You had to check which thing you wanted to order not knowing what you were going to get and maybe you were served gravy with no biscuit or eggs and a cup of fruit and yogurt but no spoon or fork.  It was a lot of fun and they did an excellent job.  After the big clean up from breakfast we had a game of the white elephant gift exchange.  Lots of fun but everyone is tired and everyone goes off to their separate ways to get some sleep or relax. 

In between all of these events that we planned to entertain ourselves, I had a lot of people come for many things.  I am grateful to God that He has given me the love for the people to make this task easier.  It is a lot of work to have so many in need but with God I can find the joy and compassion.

There is something a little more simple to Christmas here.  I love being here and being able to have helping people be my daily job.  God knows exactly what will truly make us happy.  Open your minds to listen to what God has for you today.  Remember that all of the things in this world are going to pass away but if we can invest all that we have in others around us that is what will last forever.  It is very exciting to me to think about all the people from here that I want to see running around healthy in heaven.  Everyone from the old blind lady that calls me Dorcas to the little babies that are so small I don't know how they can even be alive.    This world can't last much longer! 

-- We are 100% volunteers and your donations are deeply appreciated, as are your prayers, both of which will contribute greatly to our mission. PLEASE SPECIFY IN THE MEMO AREA OF YOUR CHECK FOR “THE BERE PROJECT” AND SEND TO. Harrison Seventh-Day Adventist Church PO BOX 969 Harrison, Tn. 37341