Last month in a morning devotion with the Brevard, NC missions team, pastor Alan Perry assured us that God is still performing miracles of multiplication. He may not use fish and barley loaves these days, Alan said, but His love can start small and eventually reach thousands.Such is the story with this mountain, you know. Pinalito has hosted over fifty Americans this fall! Some came up for short-term mission trips-- Christ Church United Methodist from Louisville, Brevard Community Church from Western North Carolina, and a quick visit by Light of the World Church from Pennslyvania. Nathan Sampson has joined us from Huntsville, AL for longterm missions. And, still others have come just to visit and encourage us-- thank you to Joe and Hallett, the Emery's and the Biddle's for celebrating Thanksgiving on the mountain with Faith in Action.
As we drive towards Pinalito, many have demanded to know WHY ON EARTH WOULD SOMEONE FOLLOW THIS ROAD?! And HOW, please tell, DID ALL OF THESE CEMENT BLOCKS GET TO THIS PLACE? Well, Rocky and Michael Beene are pretty amazing, that's for sure. But look at the caravan of vehicles trudging through. That is a miracle of God's multiplication.
Each of us arrived in Pinalito to serve one another and the people of the village. A work that began with Rocky and Michael's four hands has now multiplied into hundreds. This fall, when old Sofia entered this mission gates for her lunch, her plate was piled high with fattening American food: lasagna, cobbler, cheese grits. When Santos, Gabriel, Minor and the boys came to kick an orange around on the soccer field, they were surprised with a new leather ball and American teammates. When the mission sweet-heart, Flor, reached up to be held, she could count on willing arms.
Whereas we resident missionaries have often felt like tired parents—measuring our energy and finances when the village requests more attention—the teams represent the overflow of God’s heart. It’s pure and simple, inexhaustible love! I watched Amy Moore frantically tuck dolls into little girls arms, hoping not to get scolded for doting. Mom walked around for hours holding the Pinalito babies-- she wore an old t-shirts and shrugged with a big smile whenever the child's swaddling soaked through. For hours on end, Cindy and Leigh Anne listened to the complaints of the tired old ladies and men. Many just wanted to be touched and prayed over.
There's still more. New minds multiply the energy and imagination. That's one of the things that poverty does to us: our hearts connect to our heads and cause them to crank with solutions. Jimm Cox carried an idea list throughout the week in Pinalito. He wrote down the village needs from women's dresses to boys Tonka trucks, cruiser lights for the Nissan to school computers. Scott Irick invested in a video camera, and fell in love with Pinalito through its lens. Now that Jimm and Scott are back in the U.S., they are both pursuing their vision to share the news about Pinalito. Similarly, Gordon Strayhorn's gears were in motion as he visited houses, pointing out the misused or lack of wood stoves. (We have spoken with Helps International for a retraining project.) Gordon helped build the loft in the new children's room, and with usual creativity, suggested new plans (wall ripping) for a joint library/children's room. Meanwhile, his son Turner, tried to convince us to let him live in Pinalito for the next school year. 
Thank you all for helping us with many half-finished painting and carpentry projects and "dotting every i" on the book and medicine organization! The Christ Church team laid tile alongside their Pinalito brothers, patient with both the language barrier and uneven cement floor! Thank you for loving the village, and for taking care of us. Koos enjoyed having a running partner in Alan and a roof spotter in Jimm. Melanie learned non-stop with many teachers in the clinic, and was glad to have more singers to drown out her tweaked guitar strings. And I am just overwhelmed with gratitude. (And I'm thrilled to be able to wear my jeans without a belt! Thank you cooks!) 
