|
|
|
|
PL710
18th November 2017
The cold chill of winter is closing in on us here at the Mission. Days are getting shorter and shorter as we approach the winter solstice. Nights are quite chilly with the children covering up under blankets that have quickly been brought out of storage. They are aired out wherever the sun can be found to get rid of the camphor balls smell, and then eagerly tucked into their beds. Also our school has change to its winter timetable with an extra half hour of sleep in the morning before the 6:30 bell goes for breakfast. School starts at 7:30 and they return at 1:30 or 2 pm depending on who is involved in the Christmas Program which is coming up on the 18th of next month.
|
|
So despite the cold shorter week, it’s been fairly busy. Our friends Frank and Rosie Barta with their Italian “daughter” Benny returned back to Tasmania after a short 6 day visit with us. Frank was our photographer for this week's for PL. (Thanks, Frank.) Tuesday was a special day at school with a small Fair and Cricket match. It was Children’s Day and the lower classes celebrated with an assortment of interesting stalls. Katie, our Nursery in Charge, was going along to the various young stall holders explaining that they should put their prices up a little. Most were selling sweets or snacks for the same price their parents had bought them, so not much profit there! Anyway they had a great time.
|
|
|
|
Some of the keen stall sellers and purchasers.
|
|
|
The main attraction of the day was a cricket match, seven overs each, with the lady teacher’s playing against the girl students. Everyone expected the girls to mop the field with their older challengers, but thanks to the tremendous batting skill of one teacher, the teachers won quite convincingly. All in all it was a great day.
|
|
|
|
The boy's cricket match was the prelude to the main match and didn't have much of a following!
|
|
|
During the last days of the Barta’s visit, they managed to squeeze in a trip to Khatema with the two girls they sponsor, Maya and Reena, to celebrate Maya's 18th birthday. After a scrumptious lunch in a restaurant, they hit the shops much to the girl’s delight and bought some outfits and other things while Frank busied himself with taking photographs. Happy Birthday, Maya! We love you!
|
|
|
|
All the girls hitting the racks.
|
|
|
|
A big smile from the birthday girl.
|
|
|
|
Reena, also sponsored by Frank and Rosie, enjoyed her purchases too.
|
|
|
Work has continued at a fast pace in the Big Girl’s Bathroom renovation, with all the brick and plaster work being completed. We've also purchased all the needed tiles and will start installing them soon. Rosie Barta added added a woman's touch to the project, selecting the right tiles and accent colors so the finished look with have a decidedly feminine touch. We'll have more to show next week but for now, here's the state of the build up.
|
|
|
|
The finished walls ready for tiles.
|
|
|
|
Checking that they sent the right tiles!
|
|
|
|
Yes! This is the right one! Even April thinks so.
|
|
|
|
Rosey: "Are you sure this is the right high-light tile we ordered?'
Rick: "Hang on I'll check. Yep, that's the one!"
|
|
One more project of Frank's before he left was to record some of our children singing the new Maxton School Song, written by our very good friend John Marshall. After many takes, Frank was happy he had enough material to take back to Tasmania to make up a good recording of the song.
|
|
|
|
The choir in full voice.
|
|
The farm has become fairly quiet with the wheat crop growing nicely and the Lai (Mustard/Canola) flowering brightly. This time of year always provides a wild blaze of yellow for both the bees and the eyes to enjoy.
|
|
|
|
The Lai crop in full bloom.
|
|
This week we've also seen major progress on the two playgrounds presently being built here by the team from Playground Ideas, a group that is quickly becoming part of our family. With many trips to nearby towns purchasing tires of all sizes and kilos and kilos of nuts, washers and bolts, Rick has been kept very busy. We said good bye to Claus, one of the team members, this week, but welcomed Socheata, who is one of the main planners of the various projects.
|
|
|
|
Socheata taking a rare break from the work.
|
|
|
|
Patrick just keeps on building!
|
|
|
|
There's a lot of discussion about the various parts of each playground.
|
|
|
|
This is the Nursery/Kindergarten playground starting to take shape.
|
|
|
|
Over at the main playground, the new fort posts are cemented in.
|
|
|
|
All the tires are carefully bolted and cleaned up so nobody gets hurt.
|
|
|
|
An expert on the job!
|
|
Another project we finally "put to bed" so to speak, was the completion of our last new bed for the small boy's hostel. When we compare the old wooden models built in the 1960s, with the new steel frames that are in place, there is no comparison. Great job to the boys in the workshop for all their efforts. No doubt these new beds will be around for many years to come.
|
|
|
|
One of the old beds, well passed their 'Use by" date.
|
|
|
|
The old ones, ready for recycling!
|
|
|
|
The new beds, nice and neat!
|
|
|
|
They are looking mighty fine!
|
|
And so another week has come and gone. As always, we are so thankful for visitors, for volunteers, for all of the support we receive week after week. And as old projects come to an end and new projects begin, we just give thanks both to God and to all of you for going on this journey with us. We truly could not do it without you.
|
|
Blessing on you,
Rick, Clifton, Eugene & Priscilla
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
