Saturday, January 23, 2010

Christmas 2009

Christmas was a great time for all. Check out the hats they got from the Girl Scouts in Orange, County in California!
The twins....Jacobo and Esau.....growing up.
Ready for Christmas in our new clothes!
This year the kids got to go into town and do some shopping for Christmas.


Passing out presents........very special!

Special food was served all day.
Chicken and other good food for all at lunch time!
Time for dancing!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Jerone goes to Moz

Sylvia takes a break from her hard work in the kitchen. Sylvia is one of our oldest "kids". She is doing a great job cooking. She is planning to go get some vocational training soon.
There is a lot of land at the orphanage for growing corn, vegetables, bananas, etc. The season are reversed so this is like the end of summer here. They are getting the ground ready for some planting soon.
Work in the fields is a group project.
Here is a typical meal if you are fortunate enough to be able to have this much. The white "stuff" on the top is the basic fare in Mozambique (and other African countries). In Moz it's called sudza. It is comparable to cornmeal mush (white corn). They eat a lot of this. It feels you up but has little nutrition. The greens on the left are from the garden and you can probably tell what the other portion is. Check out those eyes staring at you!
The transformer needed fixing so up they go to take care of it. While it was down it meant that the power wasn't working to pump the water from the well.
When you can't pump water you have to go and get it. Here are some pictures of the well and transporting water. Fortunately, its all fixed now!

This takes really talent!


Brianna Mitchell goes to Mozambique



Erin beaming when doing one of her favorite things......holding one of the babes!
Brianna can't get enough of these cuties......
The new kitchen goes up!!
The old kitchen goes down before it collapses!

more of Simon and Erin's visit

One special night was dinner at "Mozambique Restaurant" in Laguna. The owner who is from South Africa has also been to Mozambique. The meal was fabulous and Ivan the owner said the dinner was on the house. Here he is with Simon!


Here's a picture of the board trying on these shirts brought to us by Simon.....handmade! In this picture: David and Cheryl Zimmerman, Pat and Sheila Buttes, Chris and Elaine Falcioni, Vickie Smith, John and Susan Mitchell, Simon Mudiwa and Erin Mitchell

There was fun and games . .....like this beautiful day in Laguna.
Lots of hours were spent listening, talking and seeking to know how we can benefit the children in "our orphanage" as best we can.