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PL713

10th December 2017

It's not every week that we are able to announce that we're letting our children jump around on a giant scorpion! In fact it is probably one of those things that make up the nightmares of many loving parents the world over.

Thankfully for us, our giant scorpion is a piece of our brand new playground courtesy of Playground Ideas! After waiting patiently for the paint to dry, after days of looking on in hope and excitement, our children were finally allowed to get in an enjoy the new equipment. As you'll see in the pictures below, it was worth the wait. The kids love it!!!

The giant scorpion makes for a great place to play!
Indro walking across the wobbly bridge that connects the old fort to the new one.
The rail slide is super popular, but the line moves pretty fast!
Ajay having a great time on the fort.
Is this some crazy version of "Whack-A-Mole?"
The old fort has had a massive face lift with new paint and a few new attachments.
Even the old swings got a facelift.
To celebrate the opening of the new playground here is a little video we put together.
Anyone who has identical twins, works with identical twins or knows a set of identical twins understands that it is the finer details that you have to look at to recognize who is who. For our twins, Shivani and Saloni it was a simple detail, a missing front tooth of Shivani's. But how to remember which one had the missing chomper? That's where a genius rhyme came in to play:
"Saloni eats baloney with her full set of teeth."

Unfortunately, over the last month things have changed... not only has Shivani's tooth grown back, Saloni has now lost her bottom incisor. Suddenly a new ryhme is in order:

"Shivani eats salami with her brand new teeth."
Saloni and Shivani
Along with the playground a new volleyball court has opened up on the mission. With games happening each and every afternoon it wont be long before our kids are challenging local teams in tournaments. It's a perfect way to warm up on a cold winter afternoon.
Micah getting into the volleyball game.
Anish, committed to his team 100%!

A few odd jobs have been finished off this week in an attempt to bring things under control before the storm of Christmas arrives. Rick has been putting the final touches on the playground as well as the Big Girls Hostel Bathroom. With just one sink left to install in the bathroom it should be ready to be opened early next week! Ganesh, our carpenter, began putting the final touches on a beautiful table he has been putting together for the new library.

Rick working on the final piece of the playground, a newly refurbished seesaw!
Rick working on the Big Girls Hostel Bathroom plumbing.
Ganesh and the table for the new library building.

We also had a whirlwind visit this week from Sam Haberle from S.Group in Australia. S. has been helping us to build a new staff accommodation building for our permanent volunteers. Updates on this project can be seen on the Project Banbasa website.

Sam checking out the foundations of the building.
Clifton and Sam at the staff accommodation site.

During Sam's visit Clifton and Eugene put together a little motorcycle trip to the jungle for an afternoon of fun. With the jungle literally just over our back fence it is simple to just jump on a bike and ride off into the wild in search of adventure.

Eugene heading down one of the jungle roads.
Sam on his first bike ride in over a decade.

Clifton and Priscilla also went for a ride together up into the mountains. It was a chance for them to get away as husband and wife, to clear their minds and just enjoy the beauty of the Himalayas. Clifton recently purchased a new motorbike and this was the first chance they had to give it a proper test in the mountains.

Clifton & Priscilla off on a Himalayan adventure.
Clifton disturbing the peace.
Crossing the Jugbora river.
We were blessed this week to receive a shipment of furniture and home goods from Mr Sanjeet Narang and family from Lucknow. A truck full of sofa's tables and more arrived on Saturday morning and was quickly unloaded so the driver could make the return journey. We are so grateful for the support of so many people, just like the Narangs, who think of us in a myriad of ways each week.
Unloading furniture from the truck.
A large dining table being unloaded.

The Christmas shopping was kicked off this week with some clothing shopping for our older boys courtesy of their sponsors. The boys piled into our school van and headed to the market with Anish where they each choose items of clothing, shoes and apparel. The first of many trips in the next two weeks.

Ikindar and Sunny looking for that perfect pair of jeans.
Kamal was searching for a hoodie to keep him warm at night.
Jackie and Parwat headed straight to the shoe store for some new runners.
The boys back home with their purchases.
Speaking of Christmas, our Christmas fundraiser is in full swing. As of the writing of this newsletter we have received well over half of the $2500 that we are hoping to raise to help offset some of the costs of Christmas. Only $900 remaining! Please consider giving, sharing or even helping ambassador our campaign in your workplace, home or school.
View Christmas Campaign
Help make this Christmas great for our children.

During a moment of bad luck on Saturday, one of our children, Amos, managed to fall over the front of a wheelbarrow and land painfully on his hand. When he got up he knew something was not right... his finger was throbbing and facing the wrong way. A quick trip to the local orthopedic surgery and a couple of x-rays later we learned that he had not only fractured his finger but he had dislocated it too! Two weeks in a support cast and his finger should be ready for Christmas.

Amos flashing gang signs with his broken finger.

Last week we asked for your prayers for Aunty Josie who was undergoing cataract treatment this week. She has now had her surgery and is well on the road to recovery. Thank you for keeping her in your prayers.

Finally we want to ask for your special prayers for a family that is very dear to our hearts. In PL707 we mentioned the Choudhary family who regularly visit us from Lucknow to throw wonderful parties for our children. This week, on his way home to his family, Mr. Choudhary had a fatal heart attack. He leaves behind 2 sons and a wife. We ask for your prayers for them and for us as we seek to support them through this sad and difficult time. Mr. Choudhary was an amazingly unique individual, humble, gentle and kind. He will not be forgotten by all of us here at The Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission.

Sami, Seema and Mr Chaudhary on their last visit to the mission.
Blessing on you,
Rick, Clifton, Eugene & Priscilla
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Copyright © 2017 The Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission
 
The Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission is a registered non-profit and society in Uttarakhand, India that undertakes the care of around 75 orphan and destitute children. The Mission works to be as self-supporting as possible through income generated internally by it's farm and school. For more information see our website.

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The G.S.A.M
Strong Farm
PO Banbasa
Dist. Champawat
Uttarakhand, INDIA, 262310

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