The month of November has been filled with half days of school, studying and anticipating the Christmas season. We celebrated our last birthday of the year; Anton turning nine years old! He enjoyed dancing with everyone, playing musical chairs, making his birthday cake, and walking to town. He got a couple pairs of shoes and a pirate costume. With his birthday money he bought a remote car in town! As soon as he came back home he started circling the yard with his car and showing everyone his new shoes.
The boys were learning to garden/farm more this month by planting corn in the backyard! They are learning responsibility by spending some time every day to care for this piece of land where they are growing corn. They get to enjoy something yummy they are working for, too!
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We want to share our challenges with you. We have many joyful moments and those are always sweet to share, but we cannot forget that life has seasons and with those seasons come trials. This month we found out that the school the children attend has raised their school fees, increasing them by 100%! This is unfortunate, but we are trusting God and continuing to exercise our faith by believing that He will give us wisdom to find the proper solution.
We got to meet with the director of the school who has decided to continue helping us out by cutting down a few of the school fees. This is a blessing but we are still in a rut and in need of major provision. If you would like to start a journey with us in the area of child sponsorship, please contact us. You and a few friends can put some money together and walk a path with one of our twelve kids, impacting their future. It costs $42 a month to send the kids to a private school which is really worth the education they receive there compared to a government school.
When we are lost, we look to Him. When we are thankful, we look to Him. When we are troubled, we look to Him. When we are hopeful, we look to Him. He has seen us through, and He will continue to see us through. The education of the children is even more important to the Father than it is to us.
Last but not least, we had our final board meeting for the year. We talked about our new goals for the coming new year, reflected on how the year has been, and challenged one another to be more involved & working with a community-minded effort. The Phiris will be out for a few months on holiday and fundraising for the home; we are wishing them a safe journey and a time of rest, refreshment, and blessings. While they are out one of the Board Members will be overseeing the project, working hand in hand with the administrators to keep the project running well.
Pray with us for wisdom & knowledge in direction, divine steps and doors to open, provision, and uplifted spirits for all of us at Kwathu.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
*We apologize for the delay in posting this update & photos will be added later
