Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you all, those in NZ we hope you are enjoying the summer though it sounds like some of the weather is variable in some places. The weather is still unsettled here though we are getting more dry weather so are able to get washing dry. Our New Year was again a busy time, along with helping with some activities and extra baking, we had the boys around most of the time. New Year's Eve day was spent helping to cook oliebollen, a Dutch delicacy which is something of a tradition here. It is like a donut dough or batter mixture with yeast and when cooked with pineapple or banana or apple, is really delicious. Marilyn didn't think so as it is deepfried as you can see in the first photo. Mariska and Pita can be seen spooning them into the cooking vat of oil.

The second photo is Richard enjoying the oliebollen with icing sugar on the side. The children could eat as much as they could and we still had enough left-overs for lunch on Saturday.

During the week the children had all made a lantern with a tealight candle in it, and after dinner we lit them and they paraded around the lawn carrying the lanterns on a stick. It looked really fabulous. We couldn't capture it fully on camera. Of course they sang as they paraded around so it was quite a sight. Following this the younger children went to bed and the older ones went to the verandah outside Piet & Pita's for some games and activities (Indian chief, scissors, black magic, and others). There were about 35 children gathered- they had all had a sleep in the afternoon. It was a really good time. About 10.30 they went in to watch a DVD until midnight (with sodas (of course) and chippies and peanuts).
With 5 mins to go, we went outside and filled our glasses with champagne (shaken up Sprite) and toasted the new year in. Fireworks followed (popping balloons by jumping on them) and some visitors had brought a small hot air balloon which was sent into the sky. It had all of the festivities one could wish for, as well as joining for Auld Lang Syne. The children enjoyed it immensely and they tumbled into bed, dirty, at 1am. We had some very tired children the next day.

On New Year's Day we had a church service in the morning where a couple of our puppets had an airing and the rest of the day was spent recovering and resting, at least we did. The boys watched as a truck with a new container on it arrived and was off-loaded by a crane and an empty container was removed to a new site. It was a good way for them to enjoy the afternoon while we treasured our wee girl (please tell us if you are sick of hearing about Raghma but we think she is really gorgeous). Her cough has improved and she is feeding much better so thank you for your prayers. She is starting to try to talk now so is really cute. Don't you think she is lovely?

Today, Sunday, Piet & Pita went to the Mukono police station to collect three children who were all severely undernourished. One was 8 months old and weighed only 2.5 kg, another was a year and a half, with the third being 3 yrs. They have all been taken to the hospital, along with their mother, as there are grave concerns especially for the baby. We haven't seen them or even know their names but please pray for these little ones. The father faces charges of neglect, though there is hope that he will be able to work here and be with his family. Please also pray for us and the boys, 4 more weeks of holidays to go. We are looking forward to the visit of our friends Jackie & Bevan from the 14th and will get a small break away with them in Jinja.
We look forward to what God has in store for us in 2010, may He bless you richly in whatever you do.
Our love until next time.