Ancient rituals

I don't know how to put the following story, it is so heart breaking.  We found out today that in a rural area 30km from here people are cutting of the heads of children and using them in rituals because they believe it will bring them prosperity.  It has our stomachs in knots.  We also heard of a ateach who hit a student and as a result they died.  It reminds us of how blessed we are in Australia.

On a lighter note, we have some visitors from Australia at the moment, they are Travelling around Africa and staying with us for a few days.

Kids Club and Australia Day

Friday at kids club we celebrated Australia Day.  The kids learnt about Australia, they had many ideas about what a BBQ was, singing, a market, a barbers shop or even a day when people don't fight.  It was interesting haring their ideas.  They got to colour in Australina Flags and maps they even got to try an ANZAC biscuit.

News atlast

Bek has been having major problems getting text messages through to me, hence the long silence. Strangly enought, I was about to write a short blog when the lovely Sascha sent a number of texts with Rebekah's latest news. While we were in Zim Rebekah couldn't send a blog to Sascha, now it's my turn! For those of you who haven't recieved the latest email, there has been another increase to Maria's household, a 13 year old called Truth, she was supposed to stay one night, but as far that has turned into a week.

Have been trying to send this blog all day, we ahve such network problems here it's unbelievable . The sewing ladies have finshed aming sports bibs for the children but because of the late afternoon storm we have been having they have not been able to use them.

The girls living at VANA are doing well and had their first good sibbling fight today. When one of them looked at the other! I guess they did not wat to be looked at it all ended in tears and their many mothers telling them to go play LOL

Maria and her growing family

Kids cleaning the compound because they wanted the place to look nice!

Panache and Truth getting to know each other

Maria packing

and there's more

News Flash
Tendai has his learners driving licence

Panashe moves in!!

Maria

After meeting Panashe it was a mad rush 2 clean and sort out the house for her to move into with her house motoher and brothers. They were all very excited. Maria their house mother was keen to learn how to use her new gas staove, a nice change from cooking on the fire. Panashe seems to be settling in quickly and tells us she is very happy. We spent the afternoon playing and relaxing at VANA . We are sure they will all sleep tonight well in their new beds.

I can imagine how exited Rebekah and Dion are, because I know how I am feeling right now and I only spent 2 weeks at VANA. I'm aware that as I write this they will all be in bed, although I'm not sure about Maria being asleep as she lays in her own bed with no children in the room with her, it will take a bit of getting used to. Please pray for this new family as they adjust to new surroundings and as Maria's 3 boys get to know their new sister, and of course for Panashe, I can't waite for a photo!!! Susan

Children.........at long last!

Newsflash - VANA now operational!!!!
First referal from social services today. 10 year old girl! We're ding quick clean of top house for Maria, her 3 boys and her new daugter to move in.

Also, Makoni was phoned yesterday by Social Service and told to come collect 1.7 tons of maize!!!

Registration at last!!!!

Skipping with the ropes delivered from Australia

After a long wait we have received our license to operate as an institution. This means we are now allowed to take in children. Yay...Praise God.

Other news = Why is it the power goes out when you need it most? Its like we have a lot of stuff to do on the conmputer only a small amount of time in which we have to do it and its right then that the power goes off.

A couple of days ago we had our montly shop and each month e treat ourselves with a different luxury. Some times its chees, mabe a good cut of beef or even ice cream. This month we went all out on the fibrosoft micropocket printed 2 ply toilet paper. Yes, yes I know but its 2ply and you can't always find it. P.S. Dion doesns't think this is worthy of a blog updat but Bek disagrees.

Mum also agrees, having used the 1 ply, I'm reminded of an toilet paper ad on the television where the kid has been living with dogs for years and is safetly returned home, he isn't interested in anything untill he discovers that wonderful soft toilet paper........luxury indeed.

We skipped church yesterday and thouht it was time to do some baking, but sadly Anzac biscuits are just not the same when you forget to put the golden syrup in!

2010 and onwards

Thanks Brooke and Sasch for filling in for me. First the latest news from Bek and Dion

I feel like it has been ages cince we updated our blog but the truth is it has been a quiet week for us. We have spent a lot of time cleaning up the yards around the houses which has been very rewarding to see how good it is starting to look. We have started talking to the children about how long it is till we go home, the adults however don't want to know about it!

A bit from Susan = Well where do I start? we have just finished one of the greatest adventures of our lives, I think it will take something very big to top the 6 weeks we spent in Africa. People keep asking me for a highlight and to be honest it is difficult to pin because any moment spent with any of the children would be a highlight but having the priviledge of sharing Bek and Dion's life for a short while, out shadows everything. Elephants, Giraffes, Zebra and Lions, while incredible, hold nothing on a group of children simply exited because you have gone to visit them and adults that tell you they love you the minute they meet you because you have shown an interst in their life.

I know I will never been the same again, and with their homecomming only about 8 weeks away, can I encourage you to pray for Bek and Dion as they face the transition back to Australian life, it isn't going to be easy.

A 'Different' New Years...

8 hours after Australia we made our way into 2010.

The only way it could have been quieter was if we had been asleep! After two hours of sermons we observed a minute silence to meditate on the Word of God.

It wouldn't have been so bad, had the minute's silence not have conveniently fallen on the very strike of midnight!

Oh well, another year, another set of adventures!