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| Thursday, December 28, 2006
Sugar Cane
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Sugar cane is a grown locally and it's a common treat. Street vendors sell it in 12inch sticks or squeeze it into a juice at their stand. As a special treat, we were able to buy a stick of sugar cane for each person. We peal off the hard bark and chew on the inner fibers which contain a mild sweet juice. It's a good work out for the jaw and a refreshing delight.
posted by Thomas at 11:27 AM New children
Friday, December 22, 2006
 Thank you for all who have prayed and thought of our new children. They participated in Christmas for the first time although most of them did not understand it, because they are still learning Bangla. They did love all the fun things, delicious food and new clothes. posted by Thomas at 2:30 PM Hard work = good results
Thursday, December 21, 2006
 Patrick, Jere, Priscilla with the help of some older boys from the HOL finished recently 2 bunk beds for our newcomers. They also made several door frames for the Middle school that is supposed to open next year. posted by Thomas at 10:15 AM Next Door Wedding
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Last night there was a Hindu wedding right next to our house. The pond that is in front of our house was all lit up like a tourist resort and they had built a fortress-like entrance to their home. It was covered in bright green, orange, yellow decorated cloth pulled tight over bamboo poles. We knew when the bride arrived as the drum beats became louder and faster. The Hindu women began random screaming to scare away demons and the whole neighborhood pulsed with anticipation. I craned my neck over our garden to try and see the wedding party but couldn't get a good look.
The wedding ceremony goes something like this: Two banana trees in a small pan of colored water flank the entrance; these are for washing hands and sprinkling all over as a symbol of joy after the wedding. The actually wedding ceremony is filled with chants, drum beats and a fire. The bride and groom are tied together with a special holy cloth, the wife in front of the husband. After being tied together they must walk around the fire 7 times in order to be officially married. posted by Thomas at 10:10 PM Stand in Grandparents
Sunday, December 17, 2006
 Jere and Janet Scott are back for a 2.5 week visit at the Home of Love. They are beloved by the kids as they affectionately call them, "Grandma and Grandpa". Even our staff calls them with those titles! Jere and Janet were here last Jan. when the playground was being put in and the workshop established. Right now Jere is busy building a kiln for drying wood and two new bunk beds for our new children. We thank God for such dedication and the love they show to our children here. They supply a large number of hugs each day. posted by Thomas at 6:13 PM John's smile becomes more real
Saturday, December 16, 2006
 I have written often about little John, age 2 who has the club feet. With God's help John is developing into a happy toddler. The three times daily therapy for his feet is accomplished much more easily now as he rarely complains or fights us. The braces and opposite foot shoes that he has to wear have become customary. He can do animal sounds like a champ and makes the funniest tiger I have ever heard. Before he roars he mentally prepares and stretches his mouth really big and lets it rip. Please continue to pray for John, his love deficits do show up daily as he whines much more than others and still deals with fear. He does not have an independent adventurous spirit like a 2 year old should have; he wants to be held and is afraid to try anything new or risky like going down steps.  Priscilla does the therapy with John quietly but very efficient. Thanks!!! As always written by Colleen and posted by Thomas at 3:39 PM Meet Apphia
Thursday, December 14, 2006
 Apphia has been at the Home of Love longer than we can remember because she was here when we arrived 10 years ago. If you met Apphia I think you would find her very kind, ambitious and with leadership qualities. We all like her very much and she is a big help around here. Apphia is just finishing her 12th grade and is preparing for her big exams next May. She is now a part time staff to earn money, she works in the kitchen each morning before she leaves for school and assists wherever help is needed in the afternoons. posted by Thomas at 4:05 PM Sara
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Sara has been released from the hospital. Thanks for praying for her. The day she arrived back at the "Home of Love" her older sister, age 5 yrs. was admitted to the orphanage. We need sponsors for Sara and her sister Joya. If you would like to help please let us know and we will send you the information.
posted by Thomas at 7:43 PM Little Sara is hospitalized
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
 Please pray for Sara our newborn, today she is 27 days old. She has a serious urine infection. She had a very high fever and had not been right for a few days before, now we know why. Sara is accompanied by our faithful nursery worker and one of our older girls. Pray for the Doctors to give the right medicine and diagnosis. Pray that God heals her quickly. posted by Thomas at 8:53 AM No, this is not Imelda Marcos closet
Sunday, December 10, 2006
 Altogether we are about 65 people living at the Home of Love and then there are another 30 kids from the boy's hostel, so when we gather for a meeting that means a lot of shoes outside the door! In Asia it is custom to take off your shoes before entering a room to show respect to the person who cleaned the room. posted by Thomas at 12:56 PM Men at work
Friday, December 08, 2006
 Three truck loads of sand were dumped on the road coming into the orphanage during the night. It blocked the whole road so that the school bus could not get through to take the High Schooler's to school. At 7 o'clock the older boys, with the help of shovels, hoes and a wheelbarrow, were able to move the sand and make a pathway for the school bus. The boys teamwork, enthusiasm, and hard work was a witness to the village community as they leveled the sand in 20 minutes. posted by Thomas at 12:20 PM A shirt-full of chicks
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
 Galeb raises chickens as a hobby and means to make pocket money. He has trouble though keeping the baby chicks safe from predators like crows, dogs and little boys. If they make it to their first month we are always happy... In the below picture Galeb is cutting grass (with normal scissors!) for the guinea pigs and rabbit.  posted by Thomas at 8:56 AM Deep tube well (video clip)
Monday, December 04, 2006
At the moment we are in the process of building an extra deep tube well at the HOL. The existing one delivers water that is brown and has too much iron. This time we are going for a deeper one and hope that the water quality will improve. The laborers have been working for ten days nonstop in 24 hour shifts. Often they encourage each other through songs as the can not stop working. Written by Thomas and posted by mike at 3:22 AM New Toys
Saturday, December 02, 2006
 Here Simol, Jonathan, Gideon and Shaon, display their new toys that Patrick made. The boys come up with the idea of what they want and politely ask Patrick to make it. So far he has made a car, truck, baby taxi, tempo, jeep, sword and bug collectors box. He is in the process of making a plane and has on order a cross bow and motorbike. The boys are so pleased with their handcrafted toys and hide them in their drawer while at school and at night. posted by Thomas at 5:54 PM Preparing for Christmas
Friday, December 01, 2006
 We are beginning to prepare for Christmas and anticipate the upcoming celebration. We have even started to practice our Christmas carols. At Christmas each child is given a new outfit. The material selected vary for the different age levels, but they all coordinate so that on Christmas Day the kids look like a Van Trap family postcard, from the Sound of Music. Here you can see Moshi being measured for his new outfit. With the large number of garment factories in Bangladesh and labor being so inexpensive, most people have their clothes tailored rather than buy ready made. Written by Sonia Driscoll and posted by Thomas at 2:21 PM TB Day
Each year we are all tested for Tuberculosis (TB). Nurse Cho from APAB clinic came and administered all the shots to HOL kids, staff, and the boys hostel. We were all very brave and now await the 3 day period before the results can be read. If there is a positive reading then a 9 month course of medicine is prescribed, which no one is looking forward to. Written By Sonia Driscoll and
posted by Thomas at 8:18 AM
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