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PL678
Dated: 28th May 2017
Welcome back to the Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission, where the work and play never end! It's been an exciting week and we can't wait to share all the fun that we have been up to.
School summer holidays have now started. This is the season where we usually run our famous Summer Games program. This years games are being held in a little bit lower key manner, but don't worry, there will still be plenty of exciting stories to share, and even more fun to be had!
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Coming home from the last day of school. We're sure you can imagine their relief.
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It has become somewhat of a tradition with our kids that on the last day of school we head into the jungle for a swim, some exploration and a whole lot of fun. This year went to a nearby favorite spot where the kids escaped the heat in the cool waters, chased fish and, when two swimming snakes were discovered, quickly decided the river bank was as fun a place as any to play.
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Roshni and Reena imagining there is a open-mouthed crocodile below!
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Shane is pure style.
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Watch out for those snakes girls!
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The fish in the river turned our attention to our own fish tanks which were "ripe for the harvest." To say that many of our children love eating fish would be a huge understatement, so when permission was given to catch all the fish out of the tank... three solid days of fishing followed.
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Just some of Day Three's haul.
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The most dedicated was a team of girls and boys led by April and armed with a mosquito net turned fishing net. The group made their way around the edges of the tank catching any and every fish that dared show itself. Shrieks of "I've got one under my foot!" or "I caught one in my pocket!" echoed across the cool waters until well after dark.
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April and her team taking a moment to have some fun with Dylan.
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Team April with a winner!
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"Aren't you cold? It's 9:00 pm and you've been in the water since lunchtime!" Priscilla asked April, standing on the bank. "Yes, but there are so many more fish to catch!" came the reply from somewhere in the dark below.
"I've got another one caught under my armpit!" shrieked Jessica excitedly. "I'll get it", called her sister Jimika. Swimming over happily, her excitement turned to horror as a huge snake, obviously enjoying the warmth below Jessica's arm, lifted it's head out of the water as it wrapped its long tail around her neck! "SNAAAAAAAAAKE!" the call went out across the pond and in under a minute the tank was empty of children, even April had to draw the line at snakes!
(Note: It was a harmless python, but still pretty shocking for Jessica!)
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Jessica is on the far right, holding the mighty mosquito net!
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Day two and everyone was back in the tank; even snakes would not keep them away from the promise of fish curry for dinner again! Jessica was one of the first in the pond, back with the same mosquito net ready for more! Fearless.
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While others took to the standard "hook and line" method, or tickling fish from the holes in the banks, Clifton turned his attention to learning the local method of casting a net. After a few lessons from Kullu, one of our workers who is an adept fisherman, and a half-dozen bad throws, he began to look like a natural.
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Clifton casting his net into the waters.
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He had plenty of fish to back up his new found skills.
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Sonia and Malika with some of day two's catch.
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Day three was the biggest day of all, starting a little before 9:00am and ending just after 6:00pm. A big net was set across the pond and all our kids, as well as local village children were encouraged to come, splash, play and scare the fish out of their minds and into our waiting arms!
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Clifton pulling a big fish out of the net.
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Anish brought in the biggest catch of the three day fishing derby with a huge carp, one of the largest we have ever had in our tank. It was a female, filled with eggs, so "local caviar" was also on the menu that evening.
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Anish, skillfully holding balance after a huge throw.
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Fisherman of the Week!
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It was a truly awesome couple of days in the sun. It was also fun for the kids to see how, while they turned "black" (as they like to say) in the sun, Clifton's pasty white skin turned red like a tomato! By the end of it all he was looking like some kind of superhero, though, we must say, "Sun-Burn Man" sounds more like a name for a villain!
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A lot of happy fishermen (and women).
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A great way to spend a couple of days.
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You catch it, you clean it.
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We also had some special birthdays this week; Joey celebrated his 52nd birthday on the roof with most of the older boys and the Shipway family. They had a fun dinner party that raged late into the night. Clifton & Priscilla's son Malik had a more traditional 6th birthday, falling asleep later that night chanting "I loved my birthday... I loved my birthday..." much to the joy of his parents who were listening in.
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Joey's rooftop birthday bash!
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Malik blowing out his candles next to a huge pile of presents!
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Happy for Lego from his Aunties & Uncles in the USA & Australia.
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Of course, it's never all just fun here. There has been plenty of work too. Rick and the workshop men finished off the school roof as far as we can without the ridgecaps (there has been a delay from the supplier).
While Eugene headed off with his family to the mountains for a cousin's wedding, Rick and Clifton took the chance to re-wire their house which was in dire need. Four days later, with some help from a bunch of the boys, it was all finished and ready for the families return.
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Rick and Sunny fitting the down-pipes of the guttering.
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The new roof is looking amazing!
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Installing new conduit for Eugene's electricals.
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With our farm is currently between crops, Silvester, one of our older boys, has been busy plowing the fields, preparing them for the next season. Our new library roof that we poured two weeks ago is still drying, and we will probably be opening it up next week.
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Silvester preparing the dry fields.
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The new library, really starting to look like a building now.
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Our school campus is slowly taking shape.
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We should probably call that a week. It's been a great one and we thank you all for standing with us in support. As our kids continue to enjoy their freedom from school, we look forward to many more days of fun and excitement ahead.
One final note: During all the activity at the fish tank, Seeya (an 11-year-old in the Small Girls hostel) managed to trip and break her ankle. It will be in a cast for about 5 weeks so we ask for your prayers for her as she recovers.
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Blessing on you,
Rick, Clifton, Eugene & Priscilla
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