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| Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Patrick
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
 It is rare that Patrick actually stands like this and looks out the window! Normally he is very busy in the workshop, building doors/beds or teaching carpentry to the boys. We are so appreciative of Patrick and his family; they are a blessing to us. Keep up the good work, Pat! posted by Thomas at 10:20 PM Rent free no longer
Monday, January 29, 2007
 On the road from Home of Love to the city, there are hundreds if not thousands of little shops alongside both shoulders of the road. This week that land was forcefully taken back by the city in order to widen the road. Although the occupants were asked to leave and given notices, they did not move an inch. So the city corporation fired up their bulldozers and demolished the shops, I happened to be going by in a taxi when it was first going on and of course there was a huge traffic jam because people were everywhere trying to scrounge what they could from the mess and also because the bulldozer was blocking the road! Finally the shops down the line got the message and began hurriedly dismantling their stores and taking all the steel doors out to reuse. It is easy to see both sides of this dilemma, the poor have no land to set up their stores and the government needs to widen the road as the traffic jams are terrible. Life is not fair any way you look at it.   Clean up and reconstruction has began  About half a mile from the "Home of Love" posted by Thomas at 1:28 PM Tuntu
Saturday, January 27, 2007
 Tuntu is a stable dependable boy that is maturing into a fine adult. We love his responsible character and value the fact that he is never ever late for morning or evening meetings. When needed Tuntu takes over the responsibility of running the big generator and is learning a lot of carpentry presently from Patrick up in the workshop. Tuntu will take his all-important 10th grade exams this spring. posted by Thomas at 10:06 AM New Students at Bora Elementary school
Thursday, January 25, 2007
This year two of our new boys started kindergarten at Bora school. Koin and Joseph did well on their entrance test and received one of the coveted spots in the kindergarten. We hope they will do well even though Bangla is not their first language and they are still mourning their family separations as they get used to a whole new life here with us. Both boys are bright and lively. They know how to swim and love playing sports. We are looking forward to all the plans God has with these budding youngsters.
 The two last ones are Joseph and Koin posted by Thomas at 11:23 AM Dance team
 Just a couple minutes ago our "Home of Love" Bangladeshi dance team left for the city to perform in a Korean-Bangladesh cultural program tonight. All the tickets were sold in no time and none will be available at the counter. At least 200 guests are expected and two local TV stations will send a crew. posted by Thomas at 2:50 PM Makeshift Basketball Court
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
 Recently, the kids fastened a rope around a tree and tied up a hand-me-down basketball hoop. Even though quite unprofessional this hoop has already started a passion for basketball. I taught the kids how to play P-I-G the other day and they are now competing lively against each other. One day we hope to pour a proper cement court and put up correct size hoops, also with the option to use the court as a parking lot when needed. Are you interested in helping? Please contact us. We need volunteers this spring to help. posted by Thomas at 12:51 PM Genesis to Revelation
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Last year, we had 38 people sign up to read the most widely read and most important book in the world. They set a goal of reading every one of the 1300+ pages. There were twenty people from HOL and the Boy's hostel that successfully finished within the one year allotted! We are proud of them. This year all of the high school girls finished. Way to go girls! As a reward we took those children and staff to an amusement park and then out for lunch at a restaurant, it was a fun day of good fellowship.
 Two readers are missing  On the way home though, we decided that an amusement park without the little ones is only half the fun...  Rintu and Lisa posted by Thomas at 10:25 AM Fresh from our own garden
Friday, January 19, 2007
 Often we eat vegetables and fruit from our own gardens. Here you see some of our youth and staff cutting a kind of spinach we are going to have for lunch. The chef and the helpers cook for more than 70 people per meal. posted by Thomas at 10:55 PM Precious to me
Thursday, January 18, 2007
 I could not help but think of Colleen when I read Proverbs 19 today. In vers 14 it says: "Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord". How true! Thank you so much Lord. posted by Thomas at 5:23 PM Phillip Walsh
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
 It was fun to have our friend Phil here for a short visit. He is always good for inspiration and challenge. posted by Thomas at 10:15 AM John update
Monday, January 15, 2007
 We took John (above) our club foot boy to the hospital south of Chittagong for a check up and had a good report. Unfortunately, though we found out that one of our 5 year old girls, Asha (on the spiral slide) has a slight form of cerebal palsy and will need full leg braces. Asha is very stubborn and so we will need lots of patience as we help her to get used to her braces. Please pray with us that we know how to explain it to her and how to help her to accept this difficult section of her childhood.  posted by Thomas at 11:25 AM Badminton tournament
Saturday, January 13, 2007
 In winter all Bengalis take out their badminton rackets and get their swing into shape. We all love playing it from young to old. One day we had a badminton tournament, but because we do not have a net and do not really know the rules, we just judged champions from the number of times each pair could hit it without the birdie touching the ground. Ukoching and Rintu were the winners with 199 times! This has changed since... posted by Thomas at 5:43 PM Cleaning
Thursday, January 11, 2007
 I have received a love for raking lately. It's so gratifying to see things swept up and clean. I am using a hard broom. Some of the trees here have such big leaves that it's easier to just pick them up by hand. Look at the size of these! posted by Colleen at 10:47 AM Jesinta
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Sunday, January 07, 2007
 Above see a picture of "boro didi" (big sister) as the kids and staff call her. Jesinta does all the marketing for "Home of Love" She is also in charge of the keys and the first in the morning and last at night to open and lock everything. posted by Thomas at 6:00 PM Just so you know
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Please forgive us for not updating our website recently. Thomas was in Germany with our daughters at Christmas and forgot his laptop then our digital camera broke and we were very busy over the holidays. But now we are back in line, online!
posted by Thomas at 11:02 PM Christmas
Friday, January 05, 2007
 As in years past, all of the children received new clothes this Christmas. I had to go back to the tailors only three times for correcting mistakes; all in all everyone was very pleased. The kids looked radiant in an array of bright colors on Christmas Eve as they donned their outfits for the first time. On the 24th of Dec. we had our annual Christmas program with dinner. There were about 100 guests and the program went off without a hitch. The girls danced with small candles in the palm of their hand and nothing caught fire nor did the flame go out! This year instead of doing the traditional Christmas story, one of our Korean colleague's wrote a drama script and filmed the kids as actors in a video. At the program we watched our kids on the silver screen and everyone thought it was very cool; remember we have about 30 teenagers.  posted by Colleen at 5:15 PM Staff holidays leave us short handed
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
The orphanage staff left at staggering dates to celebrate Christmas in their villages. We enjoyed watching our older girls step up to the job of cooking for 60 people and planning meals. One of our older college girls, Apphia is becoming a real solid leader and organizer. I am so thankful for the opportunity to watch this group of kids grow up, what a blessing it is to see them develop into wonderful adults. The older boys took over the responsibilities of the generator, buying diesel, the garden and hmmm, to be honest: played a lot of cricket...
posted by Thomas at 2:12 PM Painting a house with a one man team
Monday, January 01, 2007
 Priscilla busied herself with painting the upstairs guest house over the holiday season. She often had helpers but all in all, she did the job herself. The walls look so pretty in mint lime color. One day if you come for a visit you may stay in that very place. posted by Thomas at 2:19 PM To all of you:
 Thank you for supporting Home of Love in 2006. It was a terrific year and we are very thankful for God's blessings in the past year. In 2006 we received many new children into the orphanage, what a joy! Thank you to all of you that sponsor children and pray for Home of Love. posted by Thomas at 11:59 AM
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