Happy New Year

Greetings to all for 2012. We ushered in the New Year with about 50 children who mostly managed to stay awake. The evening started with the traditional ollie bolle (sp) a dutch delicacy(?) which is a favourite with the kids. This was followed by the parade of lights. All children had made a lantern during the week in their craft time and a tea-light candle was placed in each so the children paraded around with these on sticks and they really looked good. My job was to relight their candles when they went out prematurely, I was kept quite busy. After this the younger children went to bed while others stayed up to play pictionary and watch a DVD until nearly midnight.
We celebrated the New Year in with pink champagne (strawberry fanta), fireworks (popping about 300 balloons) and sparklers, a real treat for young and old. We took a break from Sunday School on the first and had a much needed relaxing morning, but had church as usual in the afternoon.
On Monday morning the 'chores' began again. This involves the children from 8 yrs and upwards spending time in a department of the home from 9am until 10.30, three days a week. these holidays the children have been really good in turning up, it is a real win-win situation, they get to experience what goes on in the laundry or kitchen or construction and the Aunties/Uncles get to know the kids a bit better. Our task is to monitor the children turning up and so far it has been excellent.
We took Ezra and Paul shopping with us last Wednesday and had a really good time with them, next week it will be Mark and Richard's turn.
Last Friday we had our own Pictionary night with 6 teams competing. It was a very loud and extremely fun night, with many 'arguments' as to which team guessed their drawing first. We were grateful that we had enough helpers to be with each team. It is through these activities that the children learn how to win gracefully and, more importantly, how to accept defeat when they don't win.
We are in ourlast night of three in Jinja having some final 'time out' before we return to NZ for six weeks. Marilyn's birthday was yesterday and she wanted a quieter celebration. We have enjoyed being able to relax by the pool and have also done some much needed shopping. We are looking forward to returning home tomorrow.
Please continue to pray for Piet and Pita to be restored to full health and for the many projects which need to be completed especially the Secondary Vocational school.
Until next time, God Bless