Home of Love

Sunday, March 27, 2005

Sunrise Service

On Easter morning the Home of Love boys got up at 4:30am to make it to the city for the 6:00am sunrise service. It was held outside in a pretty park and as the sun broke through the morning mist it was just gorgeous. The service was a collaboration of about 7 Bengali churches and many attended. It is rare to see the churches working together. Our family was one of the few foreigners present. The worship team had taken a few well known Christmas songs and given them new words for Easter. After the sunrise service, individual services were held in the different churches at the normal times.

posted by Thomas at 10:16 PM

The cross is empty

That is why we wish you a Happy Easter season. Below this cross are some of our older boys from "Home of Love."

posted by Thomas at 8:19 AM

Saturday, March 26, 2005

Fancy footwear vs. muddy feet

Today at the "Bora" school a few of the kids I noticed weren't wearing shoes even though it was P.E. that day. I knew the answer before I asked them where their shoes were. It was raining and wet outside. Doesn't sound like a convincable answer? To the Bengalis it makes perfect sense, if its raining you don't wear your shoes as they will get muddy and ruined. Feet are easy to clean but shoes are precious and cannot be easily replaced! What a different concept to the West where we spend good money on shoes that will keep our feet dry and warm on rainy days! By the looks of this all-star squad, I would say Thomas has his work cut out for him.

posted by Colleen at 10:14 PM

Thursday, March 24, 2005

"Come on up!"

Hi, my name is Nobojoy and I am in 3rd grade. I live in Bangladesh and come from the Chittagong Hill tracts. I have two cousins at Home of Love.

posted by Thomas at 8:09 AM

Monday, March 21, 2005

1 Chronicles 29: 11 + 12

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O Lord is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.
In you hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

posted by Thomas at 7:39 AM

Friday, March 18, 2005

Bangladesh Bananas

Here in Bangladesh we don't buy bananas nicely packed in boxes but directly from the stem. Here is Nobojoy in his school uniform advertising for a future spot in the banana exporting business!

posted by Thomas at 3:42 PM

Thursday, March 17, 2005

An afternoon stroll

The kids enjoy the sunshine and fresh air as much as anyone and can often be seen strolling along hand in hand. The Bengalis like to hold hands; male with male, female with female as a sign of friendship. Here in this picture is Sharon holding Bristi and Agnes (5 years) helping Misak (1.5yrs) maneuver the path. Behind them is the duck pond, where this week one of the older boys told me he found 37 eggs hid in the mud! He sells them for 4 taka a piece (60 taka = $1.00).

posted by Thomas at 8:16 AM

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Barber shop

This is Mr. Jang from Korea, who is in charge of the Boy's hostel. He volunteered to cut some of the Home of Love's children's hair today and so there was a big pile of black hair on the floor after he finished. Mr. Jang used to cut hair in the Korean Army and had 30 sec. for each soldier, now he allots himself a little more time! The little boy who is watching is Misak, he seems to be thinking, "One day I'll also cut hair just like that man!"

posted by Colleen at 8:03 AM

Sunday, March 13, 2005

Caution: Kids at play

In the afternoons the children have play time. Some sleep, others garden but most of the little ones you can find playing! The weather in Bangladesh is still nice and the kids can be outside without getting too hot and sweaty, but very soon summer will hit. April is traditionally one of the hottest months of the year.

posted by Colleen at 11:50 PM

Saturday, March 12, 2005

Reinventing the Wheel?

This is how ambitious children work without a wheelbarrow! Isn't it amazing how durable jute bags are? They are very strong and can even carry loads of bricks on them. On this day we had a big yard clean up and everyone was supposed to be involved. Many hands make little work!

posted by Colleen at 7:50 AM

Thursday, March 10, 2005

Psalm34: 9 -10

Fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those wo fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak an hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

posted by Thomas at 9:47 AM

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

Tribal boys move out to property

The middle of February the boy's hostel was able to move out to their new building. They were happy to be out in the country again, similar to where they grew up in the Chittagong Hill tracts. The boy's join us for Friday services. Nowadays, cricket and soccer games are more seriously played and the teams more auspiciously picked as there are more boys to choose from!

posted by Thomas at 7:12 AM

Monday, March 07, 2005

Coach Hubbard plays football

Rick Hubbard, a close friend of ours came out to assist the video team and then in the afternoon played some soccer with the kids. It was a sweaty game as the sun was out in full strength but still all enjoyed the chance to play with a real coach. Rick and wife, Chris has helped Home of Love the last couple of years. We thank them for their rich friendship, encouragement and help with the orphanage.

posted by Colleen at 10:30 PM

Friday, March 04, 2005

Bristi

It's always a joy to see a child learning to walk and even with the many that we have seen take those first steps; we still enjoy it anew each time! Bristi now cruises the halls with her unsteady steps and looks so cute that we all have to stop and congratulate her. Thought you might like to see her in action.

posted by Colleen at 12:01 PM

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

Have you tried duck curry?

You might have remembered pictures of the cute ducklings we wrote about many months ago. Here are those ducklings all grown up and read to serve their purpose. We are now selling the ducks to foreigners for meat and using them for curry also at the orphanage. I can now say that I have experience in duck plucking and it's not an easy or fun job. The female ducks are producing eggs for the next crop of little ones. The duck farm is doing well!

posted by Colleen at 6:46 AM