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Starting this week life here in Africa has been extremely busy and its not going to slow down anytime soon. Monday we went to the Kili Kids Orphanage to work on the garden. When we got there and I immediately went inside to say hi and play with the kids. In the garden however it was time to lay the drip irrigation system. The first thing we had to do was dig out the middle of the beds to put fertilizer in them. We put 3 different things inside the beds, the first being banana leaves. So we started hauling banana leaves from inside the orphanage to the garden which is outside the orphanage walls. The kids were so excited because this was something that they could help us with. All the kids were pulling and dragging those leaves like their lives depended on it. It was the cutest thing to see, especially when they are pulling the leaves while wearing mine and Julie’s huge sunglasses! The next was the chicken manure and the bagged fertilizer, which wasn’t near as fun because the kids couldn’t help us with that. After we put all of it into the bed and covered
it all back up it was time to make the drip irrigations system. Brent made the system out of buckets and drip hose. The buckets we founds had some kind of oil residue inside them, which needed to be cleaned out. So here came the kids once again, anxious to help in any way they could. Just imagine… about 6 little kids, 15 dirty buckets, 2 washrags and 1 water hose. You do the math! Lets just say it got pretty crazy and it ended with EVERYONE covered in water. But how much fun is it if no one gets a little wet right. Haha. When the buckets were finally clean Brent, Julie and I finished up the rest. Mainly Brent, but Julie and I helped where we could. The irrigation system was ready and it couldn’t have looked any better, especially with the little footprints that were all over the garden! The footprints were the perfect finishing touch. We have been studying some with the workers at the orphanage and teaching the kids Bible stories. We have been working really hard on the garden to get our foot in the door to more seriouse Bible studies with them. Our
moto during all this has been "They wont care how much you know, until they know how much you care!"
Then on Tuesday it was another great day at the Nursery School. The main difference about this trip to the school was it was my last time to be there. Even though I have almost 4 weeks left, they will be totally filled with seminars, Bible studies, VBS, campaigns, etc. So it was very sad for me but I couldn’t bring myself to tell the kids it was my last day. I just wanted the day to be fun and enjoyable for all of us. Which of course it was…I was with kids! When we got there they were on their break. There was a difference though in the play area, the kids were playing on a see-saw that I had never seen before. So I went over to look at it and yes, it was a see-saw but I guarantee you wouldn’t let your kids go near this see-saw. It was a board, not connected, just balancing on a piece of wood that was sticking out of the ground. So every other time one side would go
up in the air it would fall off. The kids had jump off to make sure they didn’t get caught underneath it as it fell to the ground. At one point their was a total of 9 kids on the see-saw at one time. The teachers didn’t even think anything of the whole situation. Oh Africa!!! I taught the kids the story of David and Goliath during the Bible lesson time. They listen intently as they always do and when I finished they all said in unison, “Very good, very nice!!” I absolutely love it when they say that to me. It was a little more emotional since it was my last day. I have been watching, playing, holding, and loving on all those kids for over 3 months now and they have become so dear to me. I love how they know my name and wait every Tuesday morning for me to walk through the door of the school. Actually they get to me way before I have a chance of getting to the door. I can not begin to explain the kids to you and pictures don’t even come close to doing them justice. They are so precious
to me and I only wish you could hold them, love them and see their faces light up with joy when you show them how much you care about them. They are all blessings from God and they will be with me in my memories for the rest of my life!
The day however did not end at the nursery school. After leaving we drove out to where their new school would be build, not to far from where they meet at now. There are so many kids attending school, that they are running out of room. The land for the new school has been purchased and has a storage building built on it. They will also be building a church building on that land as well as the school. So it is definitely a double blessing to be able to build both buildings on the same property. Timothy Massawe, the founder of Hannah's Nursery School and faithful Christian is heading all of the building that will be going on. He is doing a good job but lucky for him Brent and Julie are here to help him with the things he doesn’t quite have a handle on
yet. After leaving there we drove back to Moshi because we had a Bible study we had to be at. Brent, Julie, the kids and I all went to the study together. Brent lead a wonderful study and the lady is extremely interested in learning about God and what he wants for her life. What a great day for the Lord!
This morning (Wednesday) Julie and I had to be at the church building by noon to pick up some of the ladies from the congregation. We went to visit a sister who had missed church the past 2 months. We drove to the village of Mchame to go visit her, her name is Eli Overose and she is an extremely sweet lady. She was so excited to see us and to have us in her home. We sang a few songs, Julie did a wonderful lesson and then I ended the visit with a prayer. I loved being able to be with other Christian women, helping, admonishing and encouraging each other.
Today ended with Wednesday Bible study and then a group of 10 people flew in tonight to help the whole month of June with the campaigns.
Among them were 2 of my very good friends Brittany Anderson and Sarah Capley who have been with me every year in Africa and it is so great to have them here with me again. What I blessing it its to have such good Christian friends that you know you will have for eternity!
In Christian Love,
Callie
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Paula Chambers
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So Proud
Callie: So proud of you once again. I know you have learned and loved so much in the time you been there with those precious children. We miss you so much but are so very proud of what you have set out to do and are accomplishing. I love reading what is going on and brings tears to my eyes every time I read your blog. Keep up the good work and see you soon. Love you Paula