Saturday
Hello Everybody,
Although I believe there is always a reason why things happen, at the moment, I can’t figure out why I am still in Nairobi and not on my way to Amsterdam! Bob and I and Marshall showed up at the airport at 5 AM this morning to be told that the flight was cancelled due to lack of passengers!!! This is not Air Timbuktu, this is KLM!!! None of us could believe that nobody contacted us, no phone, no e-mail, not a thing.
After about two hours of running around from one terminal to the other and going from one counter to another and issuing tons of paper work, while carrying all our suitcases, the three of us together with about 20 other passengers are now in this 5 stars hotel, on the 9th floor overlooking Nairobi and the country!! We have been rebooked on the night flight leaving around 10 PM tonight.
The airline bought us one hour of Internet (for about $5!!!) and thanks to Skype, we were able to cancel our room in Amsterdam and change our car reservation. Marshall will try to reschedule his appointments in Amsterdam too.
Other than that, these past two days have been probably the most hectic of my life. But… thanks to that wonderful team of ours, our goals have been reached!!! By the time we left on Thursday, all the bunk beds and desks were built and moved to their proper location. In addition, Nash had taken on a new project: fix all the bicycles that were in storage. We bought new tires and inner tubes and this young man, with the help of our own kids, repaired and fixed all the bicycles!!! You should have seen our kids! They love the bikes and had not had a chance to use them in a long time. I bet you that Nash will be their hero for a long time!!!
I am coming home with a carry on full of the children art work that Chuckie and Brady and Karen did with the children. All the kids, little and big and all the teachers had a chance to spend time and learn the computers thanks to Jennifer and Kristin. I am also bringing home for the sponsors the letters that the children typed and printed by themselves. They took pictures with our digital cameras, printed them on our little printer and are sending some of them to their sponsors too. Our computer room was not very big and the computers took a lot of space but still at times there were twenty kids in that room!
Teresa and her two girls, Ashlee and Morgan spent countless hours with the children and so did Patsy and Sonia. They had class activities in the morning and outdoor games and fun in the afternoon. Several times, I heard the kids laugh so loud that I had to go see what was going on. The children loved every single minutes of what they did. We spoiled them with cookies and treats, gave them goody bags and hats not to mention prizes for the race winners.
Karen spent a lot of time explaining why we need to protect our planet. She tried to convince our teachers to enforce a trash policy, took them on a field trip around the campus to show them what she was talking about. She and Richard explained how to make compost and re-use the things that we discard. Will it work? I have my doubts but at least, we tried. I hate to say this but we had an egg hunt on Friday for the kids and by noon, there were tons of empty half eggs laying all over the place!! But, this is Kenya and things take time to be accomplished.
Laura, Wallace, Rye and Stu not only worked like beavers but they also taught the kids while assembling the beds and let them use all the tools except the saw. In return the kids provide the additional manpower that allowed us to complete the project earlier than expected.
On Thursday night, six of the team members had to say good bye and that was tough on them. On Friday, the rest of us had to do the same and tears were flowing on both sides. I would not want to try to speak for the team members but I could see how they had bonded with the children. All of us received notes from them telling us how much they loved us and how much they will miss us. One of them even reassured me that I would not have to worry in my old days, she would take care of me! Isn’t that sweet!!!
How do I feel myself? Torn between two places. My heart tells me that I have to stay there but my mind knows that my time is more valuable in the States where I can raise the money to continue to support them. I have seen these kids grow over the past six years and I am so proud of what they are becoming: beautiful children who had nothing earlier but now are giving and teaching so much to people like us visiting them.
We have taken about 25 additional new children and they all will need sponsors. That will create opportunities for me to visit new churches, talk to new groups and brag, brag, brag about my 133 children from Africa.
Thank you all for your continued prayers. To God the glory of all that was accomplished. And to our mission team participants my deepest gratitude for helping, sharing and loving these children.
Asante sana! God bless.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
You are being called!!!
Hello,
I will be running out of minutes shortly. things continue to go well. The first piece of tin are now on the roof of the new high school. It will definitely be completed by Friday. Alleluia!!!
We took lots of pictures today. Found some Christmas shoe boxes in the container that had not be distributed and gave them to the kids. Ready for the Birthday party this noon. Will have Kenyan hot dogs and chips!!! Will take pictures!
John and Jen went shopping with the kids as I was tied up with meetings. All of them had a ball and it was good for Jen to get out of the computer room and get some fresh air. Both have contributed tremendously to the kids and all of us.
Richard and Anna will be off to safari this morning. Will dearly miss them. Somehow I bonded immediately with Anna and I could not have survived without her. She put in a tremendous amount of work every day and made my job so much easier. As Bob commented: "Richard has done an outstanding job in the construction room, not to mention starting a compost project and starting repairing the bicycles. The kids can't wait for them.
Our thanks and glory to God for what is being accomplished at JCC.
For the mentors who have not come to Jubilee yet, as the kids would say:
"You are being called"!!!
Blessings to all
Monique
I will be running out of minutes shortly. things continue to go well. The first piece of tin are now on the roof of the new high school. It will definitely be completed by Friday. Alleluia!!!
We took lots of pictures today. Found some Christmas shoe boxes in the container that had not be distributed and gave them to the kids. Ready for the Birthday party this noon. Will have Kenyan hot dogs and chips!!! Will take pictures!
John and Jen went shopping with the kids as I was tied up with meetings. All of them had a ball and it was good for Jen to get out of the computer room and get some fresh air. Both have contributed tremendously to the kids and all of us.
Richard and Anna will be off to safari this morning. Will dearly miss them. Somehow I bonded immediately with Anna and I could not have survived without her. She put in a tremendous amount of work every day and made my job so much easier. As Bob commented: "Richard has done an outstanding job in the construction room, not to mention starting a compost project and starting repairing the bicycles. The kids can't wait for them.
Our thanks and glory to God for what is being accomplished at JCC.
For the mentors who have not come to Jubilee yet, as the kids would say:
"You are being called"!!!
Blessings to all
Monique
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
setting new records
Tuesday
We made very good time in the morning and were at JCC by 7:30 AM. After devotions by Teresa, everybody eagerly headed to their respective stations.
The construction was a beehive of activity with several of our children helping and given the opportunity to use power tools which they love!!! The team is not only good with making bed but the time spent with the children is so valuable for these young adults. Of course the little ones are not admitted for safety reason and the windows are loaded with heads peaking thru and trying to find out what is going on.
The construction team is so good that they are setting new standards and new records! We thought the previous teams were pretty good… well, this one is outstanding. By the time we left last night, 13 beds had been completed in two days with two in different stages of completion! Today they will start building the desks. They way they charge through their assignments, they will probably have a chance to spend the last day playing and interacting with the children which will be great.
The ladies are doing wonders too with the other children. The “Obama” project is completed and pictures will be taken today thanks to the Chumney ladies. We will come home with ton of artwork from the children. Everybody, including the teachers have had a chance to go to computer classes and I see them handling power point and words almost like pro. Typing is a little slow with two finger but I am sure that will improve.
Anna and I prepared the goody bags for tomorrow’s birthday party and Patsy and team are ready to spread 700 and some egges filled with goodies for the first ever Easter hunt! It will be interesting to see the children’s reaction.
The progress are constant in the high school and it should be under roof by Friday.
Bob and I are a new scary experience last nigh. We went to the ATM machine to withdraw money, $500 equivalent. The machine counted the money, spit the card back and a receipt but not Kenyan shillings. I felt my heart sink into my feet! Of course there was no bank around, just the machine so we did not really know what to do. A wonderful lady stopped by and offered her help and told us to go to the Barclays bank in the Ya-Ya mall that stayed open until 8:00 PM. We went and hopefully straighten things so our account in the States will not be debited. Amazing how bad things happen and good people are sent to help! Thank you Lord!
The rains are sporadic, not enough yet to insure proper crops and it rains at night mainly so it does not interfere with us playing with the children.
I am not the only one believing that Jubilee is particularly blessed by God and we give Him all the glory for what is being accomplished. In addition to that, all of us are experiencing His power in our hearts in ways we cannot describe. What an experience. Blessings to all in the USA!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
We prayed for rain...
Monday-
We are now all convinced that God does answer prayers indeed! We prayed for rain at church on Sunday… the sky opened up on Monday morning!!!
But let’s start with the beginning. Monday morning gave us the first car casualty: it rained a lot here in Nairobi during the night and one of our three vans would not start. We sent the ladies first so they could start children’s activities and the men stayed with Bob and I and we waited for about an hour and a half for the van to be fixed. Actually it gave the men a chance to introduce themselves and kind of bound before starting the bed construction project.
By the time our group arrived at Jubilee, the ladies had all the kids split in groups, computers, art, music, crafts, etc. Kudos to Sonia who spent the whole morning organizing all the stuff that had multiplied in the suitcases before it reached Jubilee!!!!
When the Kenyans say “the rains are coming”, they are not joking!!! It came and it poured for about 10 minutes turning the dirt road into a mud pit. Not just the kind of mud we have at home, more like “mock” that builds up under your shoe soles and sticks and makes walking very difficult. Ten minutes later, the sun was back but then it poured again. It is actually a blessing for Kenya and good news for Jubilee as the crops were planted last week.
Of course rain will not stop a true Belgian girl so activities continued as scheduled. Anna took the five girls from Form one downtown and together with Margaret, they purchased their new uniforms. She also bought them their lunch at the Chicken Inn!!!
The trusses are now creating a new landscape as the high school construction is progressing really well and the older children are very excited. Bob and his team tackled the bunk beds and by the end of the day, three brand new beds had been completed. I showed up once to take picture and what was the sanctuary on Sunday is now a perfect assembly line with all the team members performing a specific task with the help of two or three of the older children. The other children are at the windows, all of them watching and hoping that someone will call them to help and participate.
This being Bob’s project I know better than stick around and ask questions so I waited for the end of the day to have his comments. “We have another outstanding team”, he says. Rye and Nash, father and son team do an outstanding job. The people who were not familiar with carpentry are learning so fast, the ones used to construction projects are teaching the others. There are jokes around and good laughs and it is truly a blessing to be associated with such fine people.”
In fact Bob told me that it is going so well that tomorrow, some of the team members will start the construction of the school desks!!!
We completed the day with devotions with the children and the “activity” team together, under the energetic leadership of John and his guitar. Where that gentleman gets his energy is unheard of. The children love him as he can be silly and have fun with them but I also saw him very serious and concerned by one of our children who seems to be having a hard time coping with the loss of her parents. Jennifer is a trooper and gives herself 100% in spite of the discomfort of her early pregnancy. She is the star of the computer room together with Kristin.
What a team! When God assembles His people, He knows what he is doing!!!
Blessings to all.
Monique
We are now all convinced that God does answer prayers indeed! We prayed for rain at church on Sunday… the sky opened up on Monday morning!!!
But let’s start with the beginning. Monday morning gave us the first car casualty: it rained a lot here in Nairobi during the night and one of our three vans would not start. We sent the ladies first so they could start children’s activities and the men stayed with Bob and I and we waited for about an hour and a half for the van to be fixed. Actually it gave the men a chance to introduce themselves and kind of bound before starting the bed construction project.
By the time our group arrived at Jubilee, the ladies had all the kids split in groups, computers, art, music, crafts, etc. Kudos to Sonia who spent the whole morning organizing all the stuff that had multiplied in the suitcases before it reached Jubilee!!!!
When the Kenyans say “the rains are coming”, they are not joking!!! It came and it poured for about 10 minutes turning the dirt road into a mud pit. Not just the kind of mud we have at home, more like “mock” that builds up under your shoe soles and sticks and makes walking very difficult. Ten minutes later, the sun was back but then it poured again. It is actually a blessing for Kenya and good news for Jubilee as the crops were planted last week.
Of course rain will not stop a true Belgian girl so activities continued as scheduled. Anna took the five girls from Form one downtown and together with Margaret, they purchased their new uniforms. She also bought them their lunch at the Chicken Inn!!!
The trusses are now creating a new landscape as the high school construction is progressing really well and the older children are very excited. Bob and his team tackled the bunk beds and by the end of the day, three brand new beds had been completed. I showed up once to take picture and what was the sanctuary on Sunday is now a perfect assembly line with all the team members performing a specific task with the help of two or three of the older children. The other children are at the windows, all of them watching and hoping that someone will call them to help and participate.
This being Bob’s project I know better than stick around and ask questions so I waited for the end of the day to have his comments. “We have another outstanding team”, he says. Rye and Nash, father and son team do an outstanding job. The people who were not familiar with carpentry are learning so fast, the ones used to construction projects are teaching the others. There are jokes around and good laughs and it is truly a blessing to be associated with such fine people.”
In fact Bob told me that it is going so well that tomorrow, some of the team members will start the construction of the school desks!!!
We completed the day with devotions with the children and the “activity” team together, under the energetic leadership of John and his guitar. Where that gentleman gets his energy is unheard of. The children love him as he can be silly and have fun with them but I also saw him very serious and concerned by one of our children who seems to be having a hard time coping with the loss of her parents. Jennifer is a trooper and gives herself 100% in spite of the discomfort of her early pregnancy. She is the star of the computer room together with Kristin.
What a team! When God assembles His people, He knows what he is doing!!!
Blessings to all.
Monique
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Construction update
While all of us are busy with the kids, the construction is progressing well. Every day brings an army of workers. They are all over the place and do everything manually. The trusses are made on site from long pieces of lumber that are divided in two by one man armed with a carpenter saw. The lintel is concrete that is mixed by hand and then carried on the second floor. The workers love us as we are providing a lot of much needed jobs in the neighborhood.
On the first floor, the electricity has been installed in the computer lab and the walls have been plastered. The floor and the ceiling will be next. I expect that by Monday, the roof material - tin - will arrive on site and before we know it, that part of the high school will be under roof.
Sunday night:
We had another great day today and all of us kind of rejuvenated in a wonderful service of praise for the One who is making all this possible.. The children as usual were wonderful with their songs and dances praising God. I had hoped to delegate the "speach" to John but Joe announced bluntly that I was going to deliver the message today!!!! It kind of took me by surprise but for some reason, when I am at Jubilee, it seems that God always puts words in my mouth. However, after a few minutes, I decided that John was much more qualified than me to deliver a message and he took over and did an outstanding job. He was asked of course to play his guitar and sing and before we knew it we were all singing, clapping hands and dancing. Nobody would ever believe that I do attend the traditional service at my church rather than the contemporary!!! But praising God this way just feels so natural at Jubilee!!!
We had a wonderful lunch in Westland. Jen got a little bit sick with the heat and all the excitement not to mention the terrible bumps of the roads so she and John went back to the MGH while the others charged to the Ya-Ya Sunday market!!! The supermaket parking lot is closed to cars on Sunday and replaced by vendors selling everything that a typical tourist could dream of bringing home!!!
Bob and I went to Uchumi to buy the supplies for Monday for PB & J and school supplies needed for the different activities.
It was very hot today and we still have not seen a drop of rain at Jubilee. That is bad news as the fields have been planted and we really need rain soon. We keep praying for at least a thunderstorm.
Tomorrow, the new team will have a chance to get to work. Chuckie and Brady teaching art, Pasty has enough activities scheduled for the little ones to stay at Jubilee for a full month! Computers are up and running and kids will be lined up and of course, the men are ready to tackle beds and desks.
We all thank God for bringing the second team safely to Nairobi. We give Him the praise for what has been accomplished this past week. We pray for His guidance for the coming week and we all look forward to get started.
Blessings and lots of love from the kids to their sponsors.
Monique
Time flies twice as fast here as it does at home...
Sunday morning,
A couple of minutes before heading for JCC for church service. Time flies twice as fast here as it does at home I swear.
We had a good day yesterday. After lunch, we spent time with the kids. The ones sponsoring a child connected with them and it was funny to watch these children holding on their sponsors hands like on a life line! The only troubles is that several kids asked me How come you are not coming with MY sponsors??? I guess I will have to pass the words to our sponsors in the States.
The little ones that were just accepted at JCC are already opening up a little. They are still shy and do not speak English but love is a common language and there is a connection there. They are starting to smile a little and they do laugh when we attempt to speak swahili.
We all went to the Ya-Ya mall and robbed the 3 ATM machines: 24 people withdrawing cash!!! Not really but it was fun to watch the security officers around us kind of panicking: the muzungus are robbing the machine!!!
Most of us went to dinner at the Cellar last night, 18 exactly. We had a great time getting to know each others and relaxing before this coming week that will be even more hectic than last week.
Today we will have church service at JCC with the children singing and praising God. As I did my share of speaking last week, I will delegate this honor to John and will ask Teresa to do the closing prayer. Teresa amazes me. She had a wonderful devotion for us yesterday and that is one side of her that I never knew before. I really look forward to spending more time with the Chumney family.
Everybody is doing well and enjoying the children. After church, we will go to lunch, hopefully a different place than last week, then the usual tour of Nairobi followed by shopping for souveninrs.
Hope everybody is doing well at home. Owen was sent home yesterday with tons of hellos for all the folks back home. We miss you all but have fun here.
God bless.
Monique
A couple of minutes before heading for JCC for church service. Time flies twice as fast here as it does at home I swear.
We had a good day yesterday. After lunch, we spent time with the kids. The ones sponsoring a child connected with them and it was funny to watch these children holding on their sponsors hands like on a life line! The only troubles is that several kids asked me How come you are not coming with MY sponsors??? I guess I will have to pass the words to our sponsors in the States.
The little ones that were just accepted at JCC are already opening up a little. They are still shy and do not speak English but love is a common language and there is a connection there. They are starting to smile a little and they do laugh when we attempt to speak swahili.
We all went to the Ya-Ya mall and robbed the 3 ATM machines: 24 people withdrawing cash!!! Not really but it was fun to watch the security officers around us kind of panicking: the muzungus are robbing the machine!!!
Most of us went to dinner at the Cellar last night, 18 exactly. We had a great time getting to know each others and relaxing before this coming week that will be even more hectic than last week.
Today we will have church service at JCC with the children singing and praising God. As I did my share of speaking last week, I will delegate this honor to John and will ask Teresa to do the closing prayer. Teresa amazes me. She had a wonderful devotion for us yesterday and that is one side of her that I never knew before. I really look forward to spending more time with the Chumney family.
Everybody is doing well and enjoying the children. After church, we will go to lunch, hopefully a different place than last week, then the usual tour of Nairobi followed by shopping for souveninrs.
Hope everybody is doing well at home. Owen was sent home yesterday with tons of hellos for all the folks back home. We miss you all but have fun here.
God bless.
Monique
Saturday, April 4, 2009
135 kids have seen the dentist!!!
All the second group of participants have now arrived together with their luggage! This is truly a miracle and a first for our mission trips. The first group left for safari this morning after a tremendously successful week. In five days, 135 kids have gone through dental exams, cleaning, filling and extractions, followed by physicals and any other problems they wanted to talk about to our wonderful Nurse Janice and then an eye exam that had some perks: A brand new pair of sunglasses and stickers!!!
Today the second group experienced Jubilee and the glow that surrounds it. It is Owen's birthday and the children had prepared a "Happy birthday" welcome song. There was not one dry eye in the 25 people around!
More later as I have to go down for dinner!!!
M
Today the second group experienced Jubilee and the glow that surrounds it. It is Owen's birthday and the children had prepared a "Happy birthday" welcome song. There was not one dry eye in the 25 people around!
More later as I have to go down for dinner!!!
M
Friday, April 3, 2009
The high school walls are up...
Friday,
Yesterday was another beautiful day. Jen and John joined us for breakfast and we all left a few minutes after 6:30. we paid dearly for being late as it took us about two hours to get to Jubilee.
After a very moving devotion by Billy Turner who shared with us his near death experience in a freak auto accident while on a mission trip, we all went to work. John and his guitar and his charisma attracted the kids like a magnet and pretty soon, the whole place was singing and praising the Lord.
Jennifer got to work unpacking and setting up the computer room. Like usual in Kenya, it takes a little longer to get things done but eventually they do get accomplished.
I cranked the whip with the older children and put them to work organizing the "goody bags" for all the kids. I showed them what I wanted and pretty soon we had a whole assembly line putting candies, balloons, drinks, etc in a ziplock bag. I must tell you, I am so proud of these children. They are bright, sharp and love to get involved in specific tasks.
Anna made an excellent pasta dinner for 200 that fed about 150 of us !!! It was so good. the kids loved it. We also all had ice cream.
The construction is going very well. I will try to attach a picture if I can manage this technology!!!
The high school walls are up and the trusses should be erected today. The roofing material should be coming soon. We are so grateful for the generous invidduals who made this possible with their generosity. We have also started to plaster the two bottom rooms and install the electricity for the computer lab. All the glory of what is being accomplished is to God and it never, never stops to amaze me what the power of faith and love will do.
The afternoon went by like lightning and before we knew it we were on our way home. We all called it an early day. Last night we splurged and all went to Safari Park Hotel for dinner and an African show. It was great fun but we paid the price going to bed around 11 and up the next day at 5 am.
Everybody is sending greetings to family and friends. Thank you for your continued prayers.
Blessings to you all
Monique
Yesterday was another beautiful day. Jen and John joined us for breakfast and we all left a few minutes after 6:30. we paid dearly for being late as it took us about two hours to get to Jubilee.
After a very moving devotion by Billy Turner who shared with us his near death experience in a freak auto accident while on a mission trip, we all went to work. John and his guitar and his charisma attracted the kids like a magnet and pretty soon, the whole place was singing and praising the Lord.
Jennifer got to work unpacking and setting up the computer room. Like usual in Kenya, it takes a little longer to get things done but eventually they do get accomplished.
I cranked the whip with the older children and put them to work organizing the "goody bags" for all the kids. I showed them what I wanted and pretty soon we had a whole assembly line putting candies, balloons, drinks, etc in a ziplock bag. I must tell you, I am so proud of these children. They are bright, sharp and love to get involved in specific tasks.
Anna made an excellent pasta dinner for 200 that fed about 150 of us !!! It was so good. the kids loved it. We also all had ice cream.
The construction is going very well. I will try to attach a picture if I can manage this technology!!!
The high school walls are up and the trusses should be erected today. The roofing material should be coming soon. We are so grateful for the generous invidduals who made this possible with their generosity. We have also started to plaster the two bottom rooms and install the electricity for the computer lab. All the glory of what is being accomplished is to God and it never, never stops to amaze me what the power of faith and love will do.
The afternoon went by like lightning and before we knew it we were on our way home. We all called it an early day. Last night we splurged and all went to Safari Park Hotel for dinner and an African show. It was great fun but we paid the price going to bed around 11 and up the next day at 5 am.
Everybody is sending greetings to family and friends. Thank you for your continued prayers.
Blessings to you all
Monique
Thursday, April 2, 2009
...but save 10% for God
Hello everybody,
Wednesday
Leaving at 6:30 am sharp makes a huge difference as far as traffic. We can get to Jubilee by 7:40 AM although we are still playing "urban cowboy" thru the most unbelievable traffic jams of trucks, cars, bikes and hand pulled "trailers"!
Everybody is fine but some of us have had little boots of bathroom runs!!! Spirit is good and a lot is being accomplished by the three teams: dental, eyes and physicals..
Anna and I had the time of our lives taking 8 of the high schoolers shopping downtown. Each one had received 800 Ksh - about $10 - and had total freedom to buy what they wanted. Previously we had a bible lesson about how to handle money and amazingly, they are the ones who told me they had to save 10% for God!!!
We started by hunting for blue jeans and bras!!! We had some real good bargains in the local shops where you can find absolutely everything. We opted for the local KFC which was excellent by the way and then headed to a very large supermarket to buy food for tomorrow special meal and also to replace a hair dryer for the girls and a "shaving machine" for the boys' head.
Mary W bought a birthday cake to share with the others - her birthday is Saturday and she wanted to spend her money in something that all could share. Isn't there a lesson here ???
Her first $10 and all she wants to buy is something that she will give to the others!!!
We got home safely and me totally exhausted!!!
For some reason, I did not provide transportation for John and Jennifer from Good Shepperd UMC who arrived at night. I thought they were coming on Thursday. Thank God, they took a taxi and are now at the Methodist Guest house. We will meet them this morning.
Today is a special pasta party and we will give the kids a couple of little things so both groups can have a chance to have quality time with the children.
Thanks to all for your prayers. Blessings to you.
Monique
Wednesday
Leaving at 6:30 am sharp makes a huge difference as far as traffic. We can get to Jubilee by 7:40 AM although we are still playing "urban cowboy" thru the most unbelievable traffic jams of trucks, cars, bikes and hand pulled "trailers"!
Everybody is fine but some of us have had little boots of bathroom runs!!! Spirit is good and a lot is being accomplished by the three teams: dental, eyes and physicals..
Anna and I had the time of our lives taking 8 of the high schoolers shopping downtown. Each one had received 800 Ksh - about $10 - and had total freedom to buy what they wanted. Previously we had a bible lesson about how to handle money and amazingly, they are the ones who told me they had to save 10% for God!!!
We started by hunting for blue jeans and bras!!! We had some real good bargains in the local shops where you can find absolutely everything. We opted for the local KFC which was excellent by the way and then headed to a very large supermarket to buy food for tomorrow special meal and also to replace a hair dryer for the girls and a "shaving machine" for the boys' head.
Mary W bought a birthday cake to share with the others - her birthday is Saturday and she wanted to spend her money in something that all could share. Isn't there a lesson here ???
Her first $10 and all she wants to buy is something that she will give to the others!!!
We got home safely and me totally exhausted!!!
For some reason, I did not provide transportation for John and Jennifer from Good Shepperd UMC who arrived at night. I thought they were coming on Thursday. Thank God, they took a taxi and are now at the Methodist Guest house. We will meet them this morning.
Today is a special pasta party and we will give the kids a couple of little things so both groups can have a chance to have quality time with the children.
Thanks to all for your prayers. Blessings to you.
Monique
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