Friday 15 August 2014

Last day of school

Today was our last day of school and we held a party in honor of our grade 2s to say goodbye to them for a great rest of two weeks. It was really exciting and sad at the same time, but I was glad that we were able to send them off happy after a couple of long hugs and some goodbye cheek kisses.
Pictures of the day.

Making party hats

Party hats ready

Fiyo (my younger sister) visiting us

Two cute elephants

Armando, Jeff, and Rachel (break time)

My August babies

Cute Nelly

Friday 8 August 2014

Celebrating Community Hope's 10th Anniversary



So today was the big day, as we celebrated our school's 10th anniversary. Every thing went really smoothly and as planned. We had a lot to set up and get ready for but I am really thankful that the kids were willing to help and they were so excited. We received over 20 guest from all over the city and it was just really nice to see new faces and get to know so many people over a short period of time. Some of our young kids read to the school, gave speech, and the best of all was the Nama dance that Ms Afrikaner organized with the different classes. I really had an awesome time and so did the kids.
some pictures for the day!


Suzanne, John (the founders of the School)  and Mr Beukes giving a speech

The Nama dance

Ms Afrikaner and Ms Kavaxas

Deborah and Zelda

The grade 2s reading


Decorating the lower grade's walls


Decorating the upper grade's walls

The finish work

The finish work

Thursday 7 August 2014

A wall of Hope and Love

I might never truly understand what home is like for each an every one of them, just as they would never fully understand what home is like for me. I might never related to the fear they face, the shame, the disappointments, and the reasons why there is so much tears into their eyes.
  I might never fully understand why they value the little things I tend to take for granted or why they rejoice over what I may feel to be just another normal day.
But if I have to be honest with myself. Quite myself and sit still, I find myself in amaze when I realize that through such little eyes, a child could behold great wonders that I myself may feel blinded to see. They don't need to pretend to be someone else for people to honestly love them for who they are, all they need to be is that one very unique person "myself". I will never understand how their hearts could change so much in such a blink of an eye! one moment they walk in with their heads bowed low, anger in their voices, and tears welling up into their eyes, and the next moment before you know it they are leaping with joy and dancing with gladness. Is this part of just being a child? or is it possible that I too can be like this?


Babsie: The face of hope

 You see a face like this, and tears will well up into your eyes because you realize that she is not really the face of Africa like you once thought she could be, she is a face of hope that could change the next generation. You see a simple smile like this that is not so wide and bright, yet your heart will melt deep within because for the first time you understand the value and deep appreciation behind it. Yes! finally hope is rising. Finally the dark clouds are lifting. Finally love will prevail.  Finally the walls of shame, hatred, anger, and hopelessness that once sheltered them are crumbling  down like the walls of Jericho and from the very foundation, God is rebuilding the ruins in a new way. With new materials. A new wall of Hope and Love.
Those faces that once walked in cast down are now held high. Those little figures that once use to drag their feet are now hoping for joy. Every time I quickly turn around to respond to those soft voices that calls me by my last name: It's Joy that I see smiling at me and I know that it's hope that embraces me around the waist or by the shoulders.


Wednesday 6 August 2014

An awesome week

We have so much going on this week, the greatest highlight of the week is that we are celebration our school's tenth anniversary on Friday and everything seems a bit crazy. So much to do and to prepare for the big day. The kids are really excited about it. Some kids are making Birthday cards for the school, some are preparing speeches, songs, and traditional dances. I am really excited too. We will be having so many different visitors from all over the city on Friday, I have to be honest and admit that it is kind of nerve racking, but at the same times I really pray and trust that all will go accordingly as planned.

 On the other more brighter side of things, today was our second last chapel for the term and it was slightly different  due to the fact that the grade 4,5,6, and 7 could not join us because they had something else going on. But all was well and it all went great. I really enjoyed the worship with the lower grades. But the most amazing part of all (for the grade 2s) was having Mike, Kathrryn, and Miriam with us today. I am deeply thankful that they were able to come and visit the kids.The grade 2s were really over joy and really thankful about them being here. It was really awesome.

Kathryn

Miriam

Mike