I didn't know what to expect when I first arrived. As my first time really travelling and with being on my own it was all rather daunting. As much as I tried to avoid it, all the images that are conjured up by the stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding the words 'orphanage' and even 'Africa' were rushing through my mind. Yet I am so glad to say that I have never felt more at home and my ill informed misconceptions were exactly that.

Even with a big language barrier and being surprisingly incapable of simple household tasks I really feel like I belong in this family. And it truly is a family, a rather large one at that. It is a place overflowing with love and laughter that has completely brought out the inner child in me.

It is also truly inspiring to see someone's love-centred vision become a reality for so many and to see first hand the impact that it has. The fact that the vision is constantly expanding and they're tirelessly seeking more for the children, reinforces the selfless nature of the people in this organisation. It's so refreshing and heart warming to see/be a small part of.

Being here has given me some invaluable experiences and taught me so much from how to milk a cow, Gertrude's wavy dance moves and even giving me a acute sense of rhythm! We're still working on washing clothes, basic Swahili and kanga tying but we'll get there!

I don't say this lightly but the embrace I've received at Karibu Nyumbani, by the adults and children alike, is one that I will always cherish and I hope that I can bring this warmth and love I have felt to people I encounter in my life. I feel that a part of me will always be here and I hope and pray I have the opportunity to return. I couldn't be more thankful.

Some of you will know that some time ago I was on the hunt for a good Solar Water Heater system. I phoned one of the leading companies to come and give us a quote but I felt it was a bit costly. Months passed and at the back of my mind I knew that it would save so much money if we could invest in this equipment. At the beginning of this month I decided to make it my top priority to go on line and phone all the dealers in the Dar es Salaam region who make solar water heaters. When I introduced myself to a man at “Solar Planet” and told him about the orphanage, he said that he would like to send a tank, solar panel and accessories with a man- today- and he would install it for us.
I said, “No, please don’t do that, all I want is a quote!” But he insisted and just this week he phoned again saying that his men were on the way. I began again to explain that first we needed a quote as we were unable to buy it without fundraising first. He then said” Madam, you have so many questions, please accept this is a gift for the children!”
It is so beautiful to see the genericity of God’s people.

You may remember too that we were broken into twice recently and we were advised to put up an electric fence. Last week an electric fence was put up surrounding our land protecting our children, animals and property. We would like to thank to Sabrina and her family in Italy, we would not have managed to do this without the gift you sent this month, thank you so much.
And a BIG THANK YOU to all our friends in England, Czech, New Zealand, Germany and all over the world, who are praying for us regularly, and supporting us. May you find too that the Lord is your shepherd and that you lack nothing!

Thanks too to Fr Benno our parish Priest here in Tanzania who this last weekend arranged for us all to go to a Retreat Centre in Dar es Salaam to receive from a prayer fellowship food to help us for the next month.

The Lord certainly is our Shepherd!

With love from us all at Karibu Nyumbani

You may remember that we bought land at the end of last year for a school. Building a school is a big project and for now we ask if you can join us in prayer. We have 2 acres of land and to register a school we need 3 or 3 1/2 acres!! While praying, though, we have started to clear the land.

Our men have been cutting trees and learning to making charcoal on our school site.

A big thanks to Ludmila this month who organized the selling of double the amount of milk (because of our new cow!) yoghurt, eggs and chicken, so the cost of feeding our animals was completely covered!!

Not only that, but our young ladies in the shop have been busy sewing and have made over 200 purses to sell to our parish ladies, to go with the Parish uniform!

Last year we were able to build 2 stores, but either for lack of time or cash we were unable to finish. Ester has been away this month, and it was on our heart to finish this while she was away so that she could get her office. For the last 2 years it was a store. Thanks David and others for making this happen!

Along with other crops mainly vegetables, we have started to grow Water Melons. Thanks to a good friend.

You never moan if it is rains here in Tanzania. In fact right the opposite. It is a sign of blessing. And these last few weeks we have had a lot of rain! The children use every moment to play and ride before and after the rains!

Along with our newly wired Electric Fense, we are going to need a guard dog. It is possible to get a puppy and to have special training so if you would like to help us we would be so grateful.

Along with our newly wired Electric Fense, we are going to need a guard dog. It is possible to get a puppy and to have special training so if you would like to help us we would be so grateful.

This year has started with a bang!! Probably for you too! Life has a strange way of running away with itself. Our plans can be turned on their heads by the most unexpected happenings.

We don’t have a chapel “yet”, so most mornings, I leave Florian sleeping and I creep out of my room to my office to have my “special time” with the Lord before too much activity. This is the only time that seems to stand still. St Mark’s Gospel chpt. 4 stayed with me this week- Jesus said, “Let us go across the other side of the lake” – “Then a strong wind blew up”.

After seeing the amazing ways God has provided for us here in the last 4 years, I thought I could never doubt Him again. Yet with every new circumstance there’s needs for a new step of Faith.

The disciple’s trust was tested. Jesus was not disturbed by the storm, he wanted the disciples to be confident in him and to find the centre of stillness within themselves that only He can give. Along with that trust, and an authority, beyond their own, to command their situation to be at peace.

Florian is going through a stage of wanting to wear everyone else’s shoes except his own I am sure that when he wears my shoes he thinks he is me and Julian’s boots that he thinks he is as tall as Julian. My prayer is that we can learn to step into Jesus’s shoes so that we have a deep knowledge of Who God is, and to Trust Him. We had an attempted break in again this week, and we need to reinforce our wall with electric wire and get 2 watch dogs. Our water bill has strangely doubled. We are not able to sell our pigs. Some of the children are struggling with school and need special time. Bianca still doesn’t like to eat. All ordinary things of life stretching us “Mamas” to wear our Father’s Shoes! Please pray for us, as we continue to pray for all our friends. God bless you all and enjoy this month’s news!

We were so pleased to have Gerard return for his 4th time! He has seen this place grow from foundations to what we it is now. He has such a “Father Heart” not only for our children, but for the people – especially the men of Tanzania where he has ministered for many years. This year he travelled with Gerry and I don’t think it will be his only visit here. God bless you both for Hearts to bless and for leaving your families who missed you at home during this time.

Also a very big thank you to Gerard’s Great Grand Son who sent us some of his toys. The children love their gifts!

In our village we have a small out church called “Christ the King”, our main Parish in Tumbi is about 15 minutes away by car. In the surrounding villages are another 8 out churches, and yesterday maybe 500 ladies from all the different villages picnicked together in the garden of the Main Parish where we are building a new church. Everyone happily cooking or preparing food and having fun together from 6am starting with Mass then breakfast and late lunch about 4pm! This was all at the invitation of the Parish Priest Fr. Benno who has a wonderful Charism of Joy and drawing people together.

Ludmila and I were very happy to leave our responsibilities at home and have a different type of day. As you can see – Ludmila never rests! But I took an opportunity after peeling garlic to close my eyes!

One of the tasks that Fiona had asked me, if I would like to try and do during my time in Africa was to create a new video updating the one from the website. The Christmas video was my practice for the real one! As we were discussing what music we would use for the video and I was a little uncertain about copyright if we used someone else’s music. This prompted the idea of writing our own song! One afternoon of singing and sharing ideas, I recorded all of Fiona’s thoughts and took this away to create a full length song. We wanted a true African sound so enlisted Roman from Agape, Bupee and Domina, Fiona for her flute and of course the children! Now that I am back in New Zealand I will spend some time piecing together our song, as well as creating the video!! From knowing nothing about videoing and recording before I went to Africa, God definitely provided all aspects of the process to allow me to complete my mission!!

Kathryn

One of my most common phrases at Karibu Nyumbani was "I have not done that before but I can give it a go"
Blogging and making collages was one such time I used this phrase.
I have made another collage of Christmas, such beautiful smiles and showing the magic through the eyes of the children, but I cannot work out how to put them together.
So this is part two!

Kathryn :0)

It was a very special week over Christmas, with the children being on holiday and everyone getting a little time away from their daily routines. Coming from New Zealand it was very normal for me to have a hot Christmas, but I know very different for the Northern Hemisphere people at Karibu Nyumbani. What was new for me, was the tradition of going to Mass Christmas Eve and opening presents afterwards together with cake and soda! Looking back, I noticed Christmas become more of a way of life for a few days rather than fitting everything into one day, which I very much enjoyed. There were many visitors over this time bringing presents and treats for the children and this created a lovely sense of community and excitement. Ludmila and her sewing ladies made the children a new dress, shirt and pants. The girls were also given beautiful wigs with beads and the boys received each a Masai blanket. The glee and joy coming from the children as they opened these were priceless and everyone looked very smart attending church on Christmas Eve! Christmas Day was lovely and slow and time was spent together in the morning peeling potatoes for the favourite of Tanzania, “Chicken and Chips with Soda”. The afternoon was spent down at the playground relaxing and the girls had their finger nails painted. Between Christmas and New Year everything was definitely in holiday mode at Karibu Nyumbani. The children enjoyed staying up late and watching movies, and so did the Aunties and Uncles. The gift of just spending time together and being thankful for the birth of Jesus will be something I will remember for a very long time.

Kathryn

One evening after worship Mama Ester had a request of the children. She spoke to everyone about how privileged we are here at Karibu Nyumbani, how God has provided so much for us and that there are people less fortunate all around us. With Christmas so close, Mama Ester wanted the children to be thinking of others and their needs when, so easily the focus can be on what they are receiving through presents and special treats. The children were asked to go back to their rooms and bring back a few items they treasured, with excitement the children understood exactly why they were being asked to do this, they too wanted to bless others in need. The Mamas were very touched by how generous the children were and the next day everyone piled into the vehicles to deliver these items to Bokomo Orphanage. There was a joyous feeling in the van as the children sang our way there, and it was a lovely time of building friendship and creating the Christmas spirit as the items were handed over. There was a much quieter feel in the van on the way home, I suspect everyone was reflecting on the afternoon, and how in giving we are actually receiving something so much deeper, experiencing the true meaning of Christmas

Kathryn 

Help Page updated - Take a look!!

CHILDREN CELEBRATE ST NICHOLAS.

Yesterday, during the children's prayer time, Julian told the story of St Nicolas, how he was a very unhappy rich man. St Nicolas noticed other rich people who were becoming happy by giving away their riches.
After the children's excitement that they were going to receive oranges and biscuits in their shoes, Ester reminded them that later in this season of Advent, they too were going to have an opportunity to visit poor people in the village. I felt humbled by seeing these children being asked to give away some of the little they have.
I have had some friends asking me how they can help the children here. Although the home and surroundings are beautiful, I am seeing that help is needed for daily expenses, which is why the shopping list idea might encourage even children to see that a little "regular" help can go a long way.

http://www.11.0.0.57/help-us

Last Saturday was a full day. At 7am in the morning a large team of people from the NMB Bank arrived. Bringing maize, rice, beans and sugar. Thank you so much. You will never know how much we needed that!

After goodbyes to NMB employees Saturday morning, along came a big bus to pick up our children, Aunties and volunteers to go to a birthday party. I wasn’t there so have no photo’s of the party but the children came back full of wonderful stories about good food and a bouncy castle!! Thank you so much Devota and Jasmine for the invitation to share this special day.