Can we go swimming…. Please!?!?

It is the time of year when the temperatures are 90 and above.  The breeze might blow but it is a hot one!  So the ongoing question is, “Can we go swimming?”  Please!!!!  We keep checking the local pool but it has been closed for some time.  They said it would be open this week, but, it did not.  So, off to the river we go!  The river is very low now so we go to a big area where you can see the bottom and even the little ones can wade in the water.  They have so much fun with such a simple, no cost activity that it is a blessing!!!  So, off we go!!!!

        

     

                    

                                     

WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!

GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS!!! 

Cheshire Home turns 20 years!

There is an amazing school near us for children with disabilities.  The lady that started it is still there.  She began her fund raising by selling ice cubes for N$.50 This 5 cents in the US.  She is originally from Poland.  In countries such as these, the children are cursed with a disability so the parents are not proud and do not want them to be out in public.  So this place has encouraged the parents and especially the children that they are different, but there are others like them and they CAN be successful and get a job. 

                                       

           

The event was a blessing with 2 of the graduates coming back and giving motivational speeches to the others.  There was a cultural group that danced (pictures).  A speech from the Governor, songs from the Cheshire children and even lunch!  We have joined our groups together for a fun time but it reminded me that we have not done so for a while.  So we are planning for the get together of Zion and Cheshire before the end of the year!!!! 

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

Fun and learning at COZ Mission School

We have a volunteer from the states that is coming through the Peace Corps that got our number from someone in the community.  Another God meeting!!!  So, he is full of energy and excitement to work with children.  Today he came and helped in many classes.  He led exercise, taught a few songs and taught about the correct way and importance of hand washing.  He used glitter glue on the hands of the children to prove the point.  With just water only some of it came off.  But with soap and water and singing a silly song, it all came off!!!  Fun and learning….  Thank you Jason!

 

      

          

Visit to the chicken farm

Today we took one of the classes from Zion Mission School to the nearby chicken farm.

We learned many things about raising chickens – the meat only chickens and the egg laying chickens.  Interesting that we have NEVER seen a white egg here in Namibia.  And, the chickens they sell for meat are white but the egg layers are brown. 

      

They use saw dust for the floor to keep it soft and dry.  When the chicks are little they can eat from a pan on the ground but as they get a bit bigger, they hang the food and water from the ceiling so they can eat upright which is better for them.  They must also be accurate with giving the vaccinations.  They get 3 in the fist month and then they get vitamin water to help them to be strong after the vaccination.  Chickens do like wind so most of the pen is covered in thick plastic which they can roll different sides up and down depending on the weather. 

     

They also have a slaughter house and here (which is a rather new place) they had 2 pens with meat chickens, two with egg laying chickens and 2 with babies.  There are about 1000 chickens per pen.  The egg layers are only productive for 1.6 months but they lay one egg every day.  Then they are sold for eating. 

All I can say is this is a hard a dirty job and everything must be precise or the chickens will die and you could loose a whole pen of 1000 at a time.  Thank God for the people who do this because most all of us enjoy chicken and eggs!!

Valentine’s Day–Love, Love, Love

The children love to swim. There is a pool in town that charges per person but it is very cheap.  However, the bigger of the two pools was closed for some kind of problem so we decided to just go onto the smaller pool.  It was kind of green but still cleaner than the river.  It was fun and even though some were shivering, they didn’t want to get out of the pool.

                     

For Valentine’s Day we had hamburgers on the braai (a special meal here) and macaroni and ice cream!
It was a Bible Study Day so the village kids were here and we taught about the Love of God. How God never stops loving us and how He died for us so that we can have life everlasting.  How?  Pray for forgiveness of your sins, ask Jesus into your heart, change, pray more, read your Bible and try to live like Christ.  Not so easy but for children it must be broken down so they understand. 

        

We even had the children help make the bulletin board with “Love the Lord your God with all your heart...”  Everyone wore red and it was a wonderful day.

      

Philippians 1:9    I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.