Week After Christmas

Christmas day...a wonderful day. In South Africa a strong tradition is to attend church Christmas morning, so we did! We had a great worship service centered around the birth of our Savior. Then we went home and opened gifts...much fun when grandkids are involved! Next matter of business...lunch at some friends house. Very nice Christmas dinner that Val and Donnie put on for us. Lamb, turkey and a few fund South African traditions like "poppers." A popper is a rolled up piece of cardboard that goes "pop" when you pull it apart with your neighbor. Inside is a toy and a Christmas hat that you wear during dinner. Sorry, no photos, use your imagination.

The week was a normal week. Work at the village...the kitchen is in and the trim is almost done. Coming along very nicely.

This week was a normal work week ending with New Years. New years eve we found some "roman candles" that have 100 shots. The instructions say "do not hold in your hand" but how else can you have fun with them. Check out my facebook page for a short video of something that would NEVER happen in the US--fireworks mania in a city park.

Church every Sunday is always an interesting event. Sure we worship like millions around the world, we just never know the condition of our "Church" before we arrive. It is great meeting with believers in Tabong, a real treat. Susie taught Sunday School for the children and Okuthle interpreted for the younger ones.

Christmas Eve Sensational Day

Christmas eve is a wonderful day, full of great things for most of us. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could "do" Christmas ever every day...the kind thoughts and actions. Check out our SA Christmas eve.

It started by getting the children (Liam and Lindie) ready for the day. No work today (Yeah) so we have the entire day to enjoy different stuff. Liam loves to play as is shown here...he would rather wear a pillow case than his clothes...of course grandpa introduced the idea!

The first matter of business was to take Lerato and Monica to the RHI attorney's office. No, not legal stuff. The office staff decided they would shower the two girls with gifts as their Christmas project. The smiles could not adequately express the joy in the room as the girls opened their gift bags. Clothing, jewlery, school supplies and more came out of the bags. These two parentless girls haven't been this happy for some time.

Tears of joy filled the office waiting room. Two girls who had little being showered on by very generous people! Wow!

The office staff COULD NOT let the girls just leave...they had to take them into a "dressing" room and put on their new clothes and play jewlery.

Another first for these two...an elevator ride. Yes, only one floor and would have been faster by stairs, but a very new experience. You should have seen their faces when the "floor" of the elevator started going up!

Flat Stanley joined the team in SA for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately a "little person" was a bit rough with the guy and he had to have a bandaid to keep himself together. Sorry Kalynn.

All of this before breakfast! After lunch a bit more sobering task. Taking gifts and candy to the children at the hospital. Words again cannot describe this place. Very few of the children had any medical equipment and No toys, NO TOYS or anything for the children to play with. We met quiet, sad-looking children who were away from their families. The rooms appeared to be clean at least. I tried not to look too closely. Our group (RHI Staff) gave a coloring sheet and crayons to each child old enough to color as well as candy and balloons. They soon were batting the balloons all over the rooms and hallways making joyful noises and having fun like normal children!

Thanks for reading and for keeping the ministry of Brian & Lois and Louis & Amber in your thoughts and prayers. It means a lot to all of us here to know the support we have from home!

I know I am running about a week behind on blogging, BUT we have to work in our computer time when the internet is working and when we have time...usually early in the morning or after the grandkids have gone to bed...we do have priorities, you know!