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!

Snapshots from the last few weeks!

Sit back and relax as we share with you some photos of what's been going on in the last few weeks!

Dion with Godknows from Isaiah Home of Love in Bulawayo

Dion and Bek with the boys they visited with in 2006

in the abandoned babies ward of Bulawayo Hospital

Elephants at Kruger National Park

Bek with a mail delivery of letters

Owen (Bek's Dad) with Sunboy (on our left) and Tapiwa

Calvin (on our left) and Tapiwa with the new Cricket Set

All the children at the Christmas Hamper Giving

All the stock ready to be placed into Christmas Hampers

The fresh food for the Christmas Hampers

What was in each Hamper

All of the Christmas Hampers ready to go

Bek and Melissa at the Kids Christmas Party

Rhino at Kruger National Park

Sunboy with lollies at the Kids Christmas Party

Susan (Bek's mum) with Tashinga

Farewells

Bek's mum and dad left Zimbabwe yesterday and somehow we all managed to say goodbye without tears. Their time with us went so quickly and we can't believe it's now nine weeks until we go home too.

As their last adventure, we took them to a Lion & Cheetah park where Bek was bitten on the side by a lion... Lion Cub that is. Still we think it makes a good Africa story!

We stayed overnight in Harare in order to get Bek's parents to the airport on time, and then picked up our next lot of supplies before heading back to Chivhu.

(Stay tuned for the next post - a snapshot of photos from the last few weeks!)

Christmas Post

(I'm sorry this is so late; we have been away on Christmas break with no internet - Sasch).

After a few very hectic days we are finally relaxing. On the 23rd we handed out food hampers and gifts to all our feeding program children and cooks. The children had chicken as a special Christmas Eve lunch.

We wish you all a merry and blessed Christmas and a happy new year!

Christmas Blessings

We have just been given balls, stickers and secondhand books to give to the children for Christmas from a lady who 'had to give something away today'.

People can be truly amazing at this time of year.

Chivhu - joy and compassion at Christmas-time

We have only been home a few days and a lot has happened. Today was both fun and sad at the same time. We had a party for our kids club where all the kids got a small gift.

Sadly we were told that one of our youngest children, 2 years old, was abandoned by her mother and found three days later locked in a small room. From what we know she is well.

Please keep this child in your prayers this Christmas.

(After further chatting with Bek, I (Sasch) have found out that this little girl has been able to be sponsored all ready, praise God. Bek was sharing with me that it is truly a miracle that she is not really sick after what she has been through).

Fun & Games!

We have two nights left of our holiday until we get back to Chivhu on Tuesday. We have had a wonderful time, but like all our time lately it has had its challenges (flight dramas, money stolen, car bogged, just to name a few!).

The highlight has been riding elephants for an hour at Victoria Falls - it was so much fun!

We spent some time in Hwange National Park (the largest national park in Zimbabwe), and last night stayed in a really gorgeous resort. As we were in the car yesterday, 3 zebras overtook us and 'escorted' us down the road!

We are looking forward to spending Christmas with Bek's Mum & Dad and our friends in Chivhu. We have lots to organise for all the kids when qw get back, but it will be a lot of fun. Bek's Mum & Dad are with us until the Wednesday after Christmas (30 December) - and then it will be only nine weeks and a bit until we are back home! Time really flies when you're having fun!

We are currently in Bulawayo and are going to spend tomorrow (Monday) with the babies at our friends orphanage. We were able to bring over some things like formula and clothing for the children, and they have been gratefully received.