This rainy season has been fantastic!!!! The past few seasons yielded little and subsequently we as New Hope staff experienced a lot of theft from our personal gardens as people in the surrounding community were stealing anything they could to survive. The maize mill has been a tremendous boost to our area by providing the villagers low cost milling nearby (rather than transporting it approx 35 km round trip to Luwero) and by providing them with extra income as we buy their additional maize at a good price. But when the harvests are lean they don't even have enough to mill. The prospects for great harvests this year are looking good so far as the rains have remained fairly steady. There is an environment of hope for the future.
But the rains alone don't bring harvest. There is nothing like good hard work!!! Now is the time to plow while the ground is soft. We utilize ox plowing here at New Hope and our family had the oxen out today preparing the garden that borders our compound. Toby jumped right in to plow while Ronald guided the oxen.
Also today, we celebrated Kevin's 6th birthday with an impromptu birthday party at our morning break time. (literally impromptu--we started decorating at 10 and everyone came at 10:30!) Normally all the missionary kids come here for break snacks and drinks on Tuesday so we just transformed the atmosphere into a birthday party and for 30 minutes ate cupcakes, played limbo and blew noise makers. It was a whirlwind of activity---so much so that I found Kevin in the kitchen overwhelmed with the noise and tears streaming down his face! Fortunately, the party only lasted 30 minutes and then I released him from school for the rest of the day to play with his friend, Kynan. All Kevin really wanted for his birthday was a sleep over with Kynan outside in a tent. Now I see why--all that noise is just not what he enjoys.
Tonight we had his favorite meal: tomato soup and hot dogs and strawberry pudding pie. Yum yum. He opened presents and then watched a Tom and Jerry cartoon and, of all things, "Mathtacular"! Yes, his request for a video was to watch his math curriculum dvd--hooray for Sonlight curriculum---they've got a good thing going!!
Now everyone is tucked safely in bed and snoozing. The rain is falling again and it will be a nice, cool night for a deep sleep . . . ahhhhhh
2 comments:
Happy Birthday Kevin!! Glad his day got better and he got to play with his friend.
I found a few of my kids crying at their parties. Sometimes it just is too much noise and confusion (and expectations?).
Had to chuckle at his choice of a video though, but way to go Kev!
Happy Birthday Kevin. I am glad that he was able to have his friend over and enjoy what he likes. I love his choice of videos (both of them).
Love the picture of Toby working hard to help.
You have 3 wonderful children and we can't wait to spend time with all of you.
Hi Acacia :)
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