Weekend a la Une! (Sorry, we are quite behind; frequent no power and no connection is back!!!)
“My sacrifice and pain, their joy!” It was a really busy and fun-filled weekend. We started Friday afternoon; got a vehicle and drove down with some boxes from the container stock. A quick meeting with parents and legal guardians, a meeting with the four teachers for the school year, starting Monday. Both meetings went very well; we officially put in place the 4th grade, agreed on who uses what classroom in the old building we are using so far as school only building, brought in a fellow who knows some English as English teacher for the kids and staff who are willing to learn; it is fun learning English here, lots of enthusiasm. We need sponsors for our English program. We also discussed on furnishing the classroom much better, creating a strong team spirit between the teachers and the orphanage staff, bringing in some few kids from the village to be part of our school without school fee. We are still trying our dream of free primary education under MFC hospices; counting on you!
Saturday morning, Fr. Gabe went for a rental mini-bus from the passionist missionaries and drove back with some more boxes from the container, mainly school and medical supplies. Then, made three trips to drop the kids, some staff and lunch buckets for the picnic. We took the kids to a nearby place with games and rides, you will not believe it! From 2:00 Pm to 7:00Pm, they were there playing and just having fun, very fist time. Fr. Gabe was extremely tired, but very happy for them. A small Disney world, nobody wanted to eat, nobody wanted to go home before the place was closed. Never seen them so happy! We paid quite a lot of money, sorry guys! We got a big discount and were given some special privilege as an orphanage. We paid $220 instead of $300 for all of us. A fellow from Lebanon just started this new place for kids and families few months ago, and he was nice to us. Bed time was quick because we were all tired.
We got in trouble by the way; Fr. Gabe got stopped by the traffic police and a big argument took place after driving half a mile with the two officers in the mini-bus. They wanted some money for no reason since this seems to be the way they make a living here. Traffic officers here are really a pain in the neck, and they are no longer ashamed to collect bribes from drivers, regardless of the reason they stop you for. This took place before getting the kids in. We sent them away with Fr. Gabe’s local license and drove off since we were running late. We went back the following day and met the chief who asked us to return the day after since he could not locate the nasty officers.
Sunday was Church service, few meetings with different groups and school supplies distribution; what a shopping day for free! Can’t satisfy everybody, but we managed to get basic school supplies to all and make some promises to those who wanted this or that because of this or that, not knowing exactly why they wanted more and more; some thoughts they were toys. We got some school supplies also from Unicef and were very grateful. 4th grade guys really felt nice about themselves since we gave them more than anybody else. 3rd and 2nd grade were kind of jealous towards 4th. 1st grade wanted more, but most of them did not know why they wanted more.
Fr. Gabe had to leave and go back to the main city for two meetings and a funeral; her sister Valerie lost a brother-in-law, a younger brother to her husband. Liver cancer and within a month he was gone; your prayers, please!
Monday was another busy day; school kicked off indeed! We also worked on our small medical room or dispensary. We are definitely proud of ourselves and extremely grateful to all of you. We got quite a lot from the container and our small dispensary or nurse station/room looks nice; we put in place few items and still working on. Will send you more pictures as soon as we get it done fully.
We also stopped by a neighbor’s house; she just gave birth to a baby girl, premature and under very poor and critical conditions. The mother and the baby seem to be doing fine, but without any medical attention or follow up. This girl was born 7months instead of nine and is only being covered with blankets and some sheets in small dark and dirt hut. We begged our nurse to start checking on the baby and the mother regularly. This is an unwanted pregnancy and the mother almost went for an abortion. The baby’s father seems to be showing signs of abandoning them; your prayers, please!
Blessings! Now, let us know how you are doing after you read this, okay?!
“My sacrifice and pain, their joy!” It was a really busy and fun-filled weekend. We started Friday afternoon; got a vehicle and drove down with some boxes from the container stock. A quick meeting with parents and legal guardians, a meeting with the four teachers for the school year, starting Monday. Both meetings went very well; we officially put in place the 4th grade, agreed on who uses what classroom in the old building we are using so far as school only building, brought in a fellow who knows some English as English teacher for the kids and staff who are willing to learn; it is fun learning English here, lots of enthusiasm. We need sponsors for our English program. We also discussed on furnishing the classroom much better, creating a strong team spirit between the teachers and the orphanage staff, bringing in some few kids from the village to be part of our school without school fee. We are still trying our dream of free primary education under MFC hospices; counting on you!
Saturday morning, Fr. Gabe went for a rental mini-bus from the passionist missionaries and drove back with some more boxes from the container, mainly school and medical supplies. Then, made three trips to drop the kids, some staff and lunch buckets for the picnic. We took the kids to a nearby place with games and rides, you will not believe it! From 2:00 Pm to 7:00Pm, they were there playing and just having fun, very fist time. Fr. Gabe was extremely tired, but very happy for them. A small Disney world, nobody wanted to eat, nobody wanted to go home before the place was closed. Never seen them so happy! We paid quite a lot of money, sorry guys! We got a big discount and were given some special privilege as an orphanage. We paid $220 instead of $300 for all of us. A fellow from Lebanon just started this new place for kids and families few months ago, and he was nice to us. Bed time was quick because we were all tired.
We got in trouble by the way; Fr. Gabe got stopped by the traffic police and a big argument took place after driving half a mile with the two officers in the mini-bus. They wanted some money for no reason since this seems to be the way they make a living here. Traffic officers here are really a pain in the neck, and they are no longer ashamed to collect bribes from drivers, regardless of the reason they stop you for. This took place before getting the kids in. We sent them away with Fr. Gabe’s local license and drove off since we were running late. We went back the following day and met the chief who asked us to return the day after since he could not locate the nasty officers.
Sunday was Church service, few meetings with different groups and school supplies distribution; what a shopping day for free! Can’t satisfy everybody, but we managed to get basic school supplies to all and make some promises to those who wanted this or that because of this or that, not knowing exactly why they wanted more and more; some thoughts they were toys. We got some school supplies also from Unicef and were very grateful. 4th grade guys really felt nice about themselves since we gave them more than anybody else. 3rd and 2nd grade were kind of jealous towards 4th. 1st grade wanted more, but most of them did not know why they wanted more.
Fr. Gabe had to leave and go back to the main city for two meetings and a funeral; her sister Valerie lost a brother-in-law, a younger brother to her husband. Liver cancer and within a month he was gone; your prayers, please!
Monday was another busy day; school kicked off indeed! We also worked on our small medical room or dispensary. We are definitely proud of ourselves and extremely grateful to all of you. We got quite a lot from the container and our small dispensary or nurse station/room looks nice; we put in place few items and still working on. Will send you more pictures as soon as we get it done fully.
We also stopped by a neighbor’s house; she just gave birth to a baby girl, premature and under very poor and critical conditions. The mother and the baby seem to be doing fine, but without any medical attention or follow up. This girl was born 7months instead of nine and is only being covered with blankets and some sheets in small dark and dirt hut. We begged our nurse to start checking on the baby and the mother regularly. This is an unwanted pregnancy and the mother almost went for an abortion. The baby’s father seems to be showing signs of abandoning them; your prayers, please!
Blessings! Now, let us know how you are doing after you read this, okay?!
1 comment:
yaya Olivia and I have been having fun reading the blog this morning. With school just started here as well, we had forgotten to read for quite awhile. You will have to go back and read all our comments on the other entry! We are having fun blowing up the picture you posted and see who all we know in them!! It really brings tears to my eyes seeing all their bright shining faces again! Thank you so much for keeping us informed!
We were very surprised when we saw a baby picture, so sweet. They will be in our prayers, mother, baby and father!
It was so neat to see the kids at an "amusement park"! Did you see Mickey? haha!
The tables look great! Did you design them yourself? How many did you make? Is the bamboo on the property or did you have to buy it somewhere?
I am glad to hear that the container is being utilized! We need to start collecting for the next shipment. Maybe we could ask people to bring school supplies to the walk-a-thon?
Well, you are in our prayers and will continue to be! Thank you again for keeping us up to date with your trip!!
MUCH LOVE TO ALL at MERCY FOR CHILDREN!!
Mama Elisabeth
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