RAIN!!!! At Last!!

After well over three months without a drop of rain, it finally down poured Friday afternoon! Being the English gal that I am, I think that is the longest I have every been without some form of precipitation, and I sure missed it! It'd been getting cloudy in the afternoons for a couple of weeks now, looking like it might rain and Friday it finally did. If we weren't hosting a Bible Study that evening I would have gone out and danced in it! The wind came up, low dark clouds blew in in, the trees looked alive (I know they ARE alive) as they danced around in the wind and then it just rained cats and dogs for a good 30 minutes, washing all the dirt and dust out of the air, cleaning all the metal roofs, and revealing the beautiful green on the trees under all the dust. Afterwards, the sky looked like it had been dry-cleaned and it felt sooo fresh! God is good! (Can you tell I'm excited about the rain?) And it's rained every afternoon since, already my grass is back to green, my amaryllis are poking out of the soil, bushes are even a couple of inches higher, my garden appreciates it as much as I do :-).

On another note, SCA session (Sonlight Christain Academy) just started this week. It is a homeschooling co-op of about 10 missionary families where we get together for two weeks and do "real" classroom teaching, sports, all sorts of stuff that is hard to do when you homeschool. The boys absolutely love it and sure sleep well at night while it's going on, they learn and play hard! I'm teaching music and coordinating the swim lessons... so far so good. I've already got some sun and their are worse things I could be doing in the mornings than being at the pool :). When I'm not teaching, it is a great time of fellowship with other parents. Will post some pics soon.

Fund Raiser

I know this has been up on the website for while but wanted to emphasis it. We really feel that we should "possess the land" here in Cameroon, purchasing the land where we have the children's Home. It is a great piece of property with three large buildings, lots of land, and it's a great location. So Win Our Nations is putting on an "Xtreme Fundraiser" on... click the link below for more info:

http://www.winournations.com/Win_Our_Nations/Xtreme_Fundraiser.html

It is going to be a lot of fun!!!

So want to help raise money for the land? Want to jump out of a speeding plane, hundreds of feet up in the air? Maybe your church is interested on getting on board? Email me for more info on how to get involved (schilinskiclan@gmail.com)

Jude's Second B-day

After 7 hours of making sausage, finally made it home to be with our Jude for his second Birthday... hard to believe it's been two years since he was born... he was such a tiny little thing! We just praise God so much for bringing him into our lives, he is such a blessing and keeps us all laughing and smiling; yesterday when we were driving down town he pointed at every single car and said "Ka", he must have said it at least hundred times... we were all cracking up! (his favorite new word btw is "tortilla," he says it at very unexpected times, he likes the way it sounds I think:-).

Anyway, we had a great day, we did make it to the swimming pool and Jude had a blast (as did Josh and Seth). Got home and make a cake and pizzas. The cake was a total flop... it didn't really rise, I didn't make enough frosting, and then realized we only have one birthday candle left (I was sure I had a new pack) but it did taste great so that's what's important, right? The pizza on the other had came out terrific and we all ate way too much keeping up with our normal tradition of pizza night (that's why we only have pizza like every 2 month :). Then we watched Bolt... Jude almost made it to the end before falling to sleep, so all in all, a great day!

Yummy Pizza! Hey, I look pregnant at last!

Well, Jude was pleased with his cake at least (with it's one candle :). He'd been drinking Fanta, that's why his mouth is all orange. It's funny, the electric went off right when I went onto the kitchen to get the cake, so no need to turn the lights off; PTL it didn't stay off too long.

Good week

It's been a busy week but great week! Had two really wonderful bible classes, the kids were just really paying attention and answering questions, they have become so much more involved the last few months, it's very encouraging. All of the older class know their New Testament books now, next onto the OT... anyone know a good song for that one? In the truck that got shipped there was enough bibles for all of the older children, a huge blessing.

It was national Youth Day yesterday, there was a big parade in town and each school got to march in their best uniform. Jake and Tim went down and got some photos of our kids, they're not too great as their was a huge crowd and Jake couldn't see too clearly. Despite the heat, the children all had a wonderful time and were very proud to be marching with their school.

That's our Nestor up front with his chin held high :-)

Blessing looking very smart! (Pa sewed these clothes BTW)

The Nursery class of their school

We Slaughtered another pig this morning. We must be getting pros because it only took us 4 hours to get it from grunting to meat cuts... it used to take us a lot longer! Tomorrow morning we will be making sausage, yum! We haven't had any for like 2 months so really ready for it.

Tommorrow is Jude second birthday... hard to believe he is that old already! I'll be making him a cake and then we'll have a pizza and movie night. Hoping to go swimming at the hotel in town too if we get time in the afternoon. Jude loves the pool even though he's only been like three times.

PS. No idea why this last part is underlined... and I can't seem to get it off :(

Team photos

Last week we had a team from Grace Community Church, Michigan, come and help out at the Children's Home for 8 days. They were a huge blessing and got 5 rooms painted instead of the planned 3, very hard workers! They also spent a lot time just playing with the children. Below are some pics of things they did;

The team brought a blanket for each child. People from their church made them and put in a special message specifically for each kid. The children were overjoyed and they have sure brightened their bedrooms up!

Kingsley with his new blanket

Tahirih resting with her new present

Before...

...and after! This is going to be a living room for the kids, we'll be getting couches, low tables for coloring, puzzles, etc. Also a place for them to do their nightly devotion. It will be nice for them to have a place to hang out in especially as the rainy season is fast approaching.

Spending time with the kids...

Face painting...

Reading... the team also brought lot of books and school supplies, a much needed blessing!

The team also gave each child a special bible verse... they have put them up on their beds.

Thank you Eric, Hannah, Hannah, Charis, Kaitlyn, and Joanne!!!!

Interested in coming on a team? Email me for a brochure... schilinskiclan@gmail.com (next team will be around July)