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| Saturday, April 29, 2006
Spectators in soccer match against Maui team
Thursday, April 27, 2006
 Everyone enjoyed watching the soccer match between our orphanage boys and the team from Hawaii. It was hot but the sun had finally relented a little so we could sit outside and cheer our team on. The Hawaiians played barefoot like our kids.  posted by Thomas at 5:25 AM Genodoe the farmer
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
 Genodoe is one of our older boys; about 20 years old and in college. He is an aspiring farmer. Out of his first four goats, two died. Those two goats were pregnant and the one died after delivering a dead baby. Genodoe had at that point one goat left and felt quite discouraged on his ranching ability. Then the one lone goat recently had triplets! God is good! Genodoe is such a fine caretaker and when they go to graze he sits with them for hours making sure the wild dogs don't get them. He feeds them special food and gets human medicine for them when they are sick. There are no real veterinarians here. As Genodoe is faithful in caring for these goats we hope one day he'll be entrusted with much more. posted by Thomas at 9:05 AM Morium
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Yesterday we received our 53rd child. A three year old girl named Morium. She hasn't been here yet 24 hours, but is smiling and skipping. As I began to type this she stood in the doorway of the office singing quietly, "Auntie, auntie, auntie", I called her to come in and thought, "How do I love a little girl I just met"? I don't know I think it comes from the Father of Lights. I was the first contact she had here and she instantly connected with me. Her sparkly personality, brave stance and bright outgoing demeanor made her transition to this home relatively easy. As her Aunt, the only mother she has known said goodbye she clenched my neck and cried for 10 seconds then just looked sad. Later she ate heartily and instantly mothered the babies younger than her, telling them to sit down while eating. I was amazed! Her adjustment was nearly instant. She did try to run away briefly before someone caught her and brought her back to the nursery. Today she is all smiles and it feels like our hearts had just been waiting for this little one.
Moriums' father drowned about 2 years ago. Her mother then left to marry another while she still had a chance and left her baby with her older sister. They have no idea now where the mother is. The Aunt has two children of her own and is struggling to provide for them, she also has no husband. A pastor from the area told her about our home and brought her to us. Her family is all Buddhist. When I introduced Morium to our nursery worker, a precious widowed staff, she took her from me and spoke kindly to her. She quietly felt her legs and said that she was so nice and healthy. The introduction ended with a loving kiss on the cheek, a welcome any child would have responded to. I thought to myself, "doesn't she ever feel like she's welcomed enough little ones? Maybe that she is tired and feels like she doesn't need another one to take care of?" No, that was not the case at all. The welcome was real and without any training or degree in child care. Love doesn't need to be taught, it comes at the right times from a heart overflowing. posted by Colleen at 7:12 AM Exodus of working women
Sunday, April 23, 2006
 Here are ladies from the garment factories heading to work. They walk for miles to and from work. We find the colors of all the different clothes so brilliant in the morning sun. The ladies work long hours at a starting pay of about 80 cents a day.  posted by Thomas at 7:03 AM Village life
Friday, April 21, 2006
 This is what we see from our bedroom window. We enjoy the rural life of the village. Mornings we wake up to bird calls and splashing water from our neighbors bathing in the pond.  posted by Thomas at 10:00 AM Reading time
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
 It's been fantastic to see the response of people sending books for our library. We have received books from many families, public libraries, schools and even the Peace Corps. Thank you to all who have sent books. We have yet to fill up all our shelves though and have room for more, so if you are thinking about sending us some, please do so. posted by Thomas at 7:51 AM Oranges
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
 Often in the afternoons we give out fruit to the children at the HOL. At the moment it is watermelon as they are in season, at other times we buy boxes of oranges, apples or bananas. posted by Thomas at 5:47 PM Playground brings daily fun
Saturday, April 15, 2006
 Here in the tunnel slide the kids play daily, it's also the only shady part during this hot dry season in Bangladesh. You will recognize Sharon for her quick smile. She is in the 4th grade. posted by Thomas at 7:30 AM Birthdays
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
 We celebrate Birthdays each month with one party for all those who have their birth dates in that month. The above picture was Uttom, Deborah, Agnes, Pinta, Sharon, and Tuntu's Birthdays. We have a party with balloons, cake, songs, dances, games and small gifts. This month I saw that one of the older boys had given the Birthday girls a small packet of shampoo; they were thrilled. posted by Thomas at 7:48 AM Uttom is growing up
Saturday, April 08, 2006
 Uttom (right) was for a long time our littlest and most worried about baby. He was our most expensive child staying for weeks in the ICU and taking many different medicines. Now Uttom has learned to walk and is slowly learning to converse. He makes me laugh when we gets a piece of candy and then asks in baby language for candy for the others in the nursery. If you give him a couple extra candies and tell them who they are for, he is like a man on a mission in order to give them to those kids. It's adorable. Recently when we returned with another baby to the children's hospital in town, the nurses and Dr. asked about Uttom and was surprised that he was doing good. No one had much hope in the early days for that. Now Uttom is over 2 years old. posted by Thomas at 7:05 AM Chu Yung teaches kids Korean language
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
 Chu Yung is a student at Seoul University. He came to spend 2 months with the kids and had a great time. Tears fell as he said goodbye and wished he could stay longer. Chu Yung spent each day teaching Korean to about 10 of the kids, it was an elected class for whoever wanted to take it. The kids have had snippets of Korean language over the years but this was the most concentrated. They successfully learned the alphabet and can now read but don't exactly know what they are reading. Chu Yung amazed us with learning a lot of Bangla from the youngster and was an overall blessing to have. We would like to host many more students like Chu Yung that want to give their free time to helping our children. Everyone has something to give. posted by Thomas at 8:19 AM Daily News
Monday, April 03, 2006
 Papers are delivered by bicycle here in Chittagong. Every morning the paperboys line up to get their stacks and then have to squat down outside and sort each one or add a leaflet if required. We see these workers each morning as Thomas takes our daughters to school.  waiting for more news papers to come. posted by Thomas at 9:38 AM Sheila
Saturday, April 01, 2006
 Hello my name is Sheila; I have been at the Home of Love orphanage now since Jan. 2006. I am not quite three years old yet, but no one knows exactly when I was born! After my birth my mom was paralyzed and later died. After that my Dad and relatives took care of me. Recently it has been too much for my Dad because he has to take care of my two older siblings also so he brought me here to live. In my country we don't have any government assistance for family tragedies like you have in your nations. That is why I am now here; at first it was odd with the strange white people and everyone speaking a foreign language, but now I feel at home. Slowly I am learning Bangla and I am enjoying my new family that has accepted me so warmly. posted by Colleen at 9:08 AM Worship Box
 Things are getting noisy but fun at Home of Love. Here in this picture you see Lisa, Pint and Dorothy making our worship box. At our devotions we bring out the "worship box" and let the kids fight over who gets what! It's a scramble to get the choice instruments. The songs are lively with the different clangs, bangs and jams going on. Our staff complains that the kids don't really know how to play very well. That is okay; we are learning and having fun. posted by Colleen at 6:36 AM
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