December 19th from under the net!

Mama Lizbeth from Norway outfits Wema and Winnifred, the Chikira sisters, with gifts from home

Evalin, Angela and Margaret with new dresses after a trip to town!

 It is 7:54 p.m. and I’m in bed watching Evalin wash her face with my clay cleanser (thank you Julie).  For someone so young she’s starting with pimples already and is self-conscious about it.  Aisha needs to watch her and Angela is watching Aisha watch Eva!  Glory just came for the company.  What is really happening is Glory, not wanting to go to bed (songs have just ended) is trying to stay up with the bigger girls but she’s caught!  Pendo gets to sleep with Mama tonight so she’s in their giving instructions to all her bigger sisters! 

Priska sends her thank you to Mama Cindy her sponsor

Angel & Glory say thank you to Mama Kathy

We’ll get our Christmas “shrubbery” soon and decorate it.  The volunteers have been incredibly busy preparing for Tumaini’s second Christmas and all of us are excited . . .

On the home front, pole (sorry) for all of the work being done both in the U.S. and Canada, getting our container together and ready to go.  Photos will follow but we here at Tumaini must thank all of you for your love, hard work and support!  We are so, very grateful. . .

Reward is responding to his meds.  He has a parasite in his brain caused from eating undercooked pork.  The treatment is almost as bad as the parasite, except we’re hoping he’ll heal and be well again.  Today we met a man who suffers terribly from elephantiasis, see the photo and requires surgery to drain it.  His name is David and Dr. Pat has offered to help him get the surgery he requires . . .

Volunteers Mark, Erica, Rachel, Michael and Jon paint our classroom with the children

Jon from Norway, never stops asking what he can do o help!

There are so many people to thank for help this year . . . first and foremost our sponsors, new and old for continuing to love and support us . . . you will receive your child’s report soon and please know how grateful they are for having you in their lives . . . we’ve been gifted this Christmas with not one but TWO cows for Tumaini and should have them this week . . . thank you donors for making this enormous difference in the lives of our children!  Milk!  Every day!

The children read . . . Glory, Harriri, even Latifa basic words.  Jenny too!  Some of us are struggling . . . Evalin, Athuman, Vitalis, Paskaly and Kelvin, but for the most part their difficulties surround language and reading and that takes practice.  We continue to work on that also.

We enjoy fresh bread every few days because of our oven.  A new dish added to our menu includes potatoes, green beans and meat mixed in a light tomato sauce . . . it’s delicious and nutritious.

Angel and Margaret wrapping gifts for volunteers.  They are so happy to give back

Eva and Francis busy wrapping . . .

To each of you in the bustle of Christmas we say thank you, so very much.  There is so much we do here every day and when I look around I reflect upon how little we would actually be able to do without you and your help. . . to Osteroya Kindergarten in Norway, Mama Lizbeth and Matz and Jon thank you so much for your kindness, your incredible donation, support and your hard work here at Tumaini.  To kaka Michael and the McCann (Rebecca and Rachel) clan here AND at home in Australia . . . how do we thank you for embracing not only Gerhad but all of us here at Tumaini and gifting us with your presence, your incredible fundraising efforts (follow Michael McCann on his Kili climb for Tumaini) leaving Dec. 26^th, to Erica who will leave us on the 21^st but must return, for loving Athuman, to Robyn and Mathilde, Alison and Katy, day after day after day . . .

From Oddo and myself, to each of you.  Our sincerest thanks for helping us help our children to enjoy a second Tumaini Christmas . . . to God for keeping all of us safe and together . . . our condolences to good friend and Tumaini supporter Blair D. on your loss, our prayers are with you, to our mother Margaret, you also at this time of concern, and to each and every person who has reached out to us at Tumaini, Merry, Merry Christmas to you and yours with wishes for peace, health and happiness in the year ahead.