Children's Home11-12-13

This semester, I have continued to stay at the Children's home.  We have about 37 kids, and four houses.  We may be getting more kids soon, and adding a fifth house.  The kids are doing well all around.  I don't think there have been nearly as many sick this semester, and almost all of them are old enough to go to school.  When there is time, we do activities with the kids.  

I live with Jen, Hanna and Jackie.  All of us are in good health, and love being in Burundi.  Jen, Hanna and Jackie will continue teaching after I'm gone.  For the past few months, there has been an addition to our group--Sam.  Sam has been teaching the younger kids English at the primary school.  He has also helped the students at my school lead worship.  Sam has good English.  He is passionate about writing, reading and playing the guitar, and it's been a blessing having him with us.

One week, friends from Jackie and Hanna's church came to visit.  They brought me my camera...yeah!  I missed it.  They also brought sidewalk chalk.  The kids colored the sidewalks...then used their hands to put it on each other...including each other's faces!

We haven't played much chess, but one afternoon the girls were learning.  Hopefully we will have some more time to learn before I leave next month.

Every week, the kids get a treat.  Generally, they get it on the weekend.  This week, thee kids got cassava root.  It doesn't taste too bad.  It's a problem in Africa though...it fills the stomach, but is nutritionally worthless.  This was my first time having it.  If you look carefully, the house father is in the middle of this picture with cassava root in his mouth.  He's wearing black.

Once in awhile, I will show a movie to the kids.  This week, we watched Cinderella.  They really enjoyed it.  I will probably be showing them "How to Train Your Dragon" this weekend.

Some other pictures:

Sam with two of the kids.

Me, Jackie and Hanna near the house father's house.