Holly in Cameroon: All caught up (or just about!)

Well, I told myself I wasn't allowed to write another blog until I got caught up on everything I needed to get done in the last month (in January we took back all the responsibilities that we had given to the Borns, our co-workers, when we left.). Praise God I have finally caught up on ministry finances including closing out all the accounts for 2012, completed all the sponsorship and update letters for the orphanage, got the HHCH animal records back in order as well as the HHCH kitchen records up-to-date and the shelves all stocked and inventoried. I also had a day of prayer and planning with all my children's workers from the church and we planned out the year. And I have just about replied to all the emails in my inbox. I feel a great weight has lifted on my shoulders as I'm not playing catch-up anymore. So I hope to be more faithful with my blog now!

December was getting over jet-lag, getting our house back into working order, getting our truck going, getting all our utilities and contracts back up, and the other million personal things that needed to get done. Oh, and Christmas of course.

Since getting back it has definitely taken a while to get into our normal routine. Finally, finally I am waking up at 5:30 again and it isn't like torture to drag myself out of bed. Jake is back to managing the two car washes, teaching at Faith Bible College, preaching at church, getting projects at the children's Home finished up, and making sure that the new bus for the orphanage is getting fixed and painted the way we want it. Home schooling has been going Ok and is definitely getting smoother each week.

The much needed bus for HHCH. It is currently having an "extreme makeover." Should be finished this week.

So, some photos of the last month:

We had a lot of fun setting up decoration at the orphanage for Christmas, the kids had an awesome time.

Sandrine got some new earrings!

Creative Kingsley

Beautiful Dorcas

Norbert getting into the Christmas spirit :D

On December 20th we celebrated Seth's 10th Birthday! He had a bunch of friends over, Jake made a big slip 'n slide in the back yard (thankfully the water was on!).

Seth's Angry Bird's B-day Cake (the Cameroonians had no idea what it was meant to be of!)

I was wondering if we would be able to pull a party off as we had so much going on, but it all came together and we all had a great time.

Then it was time for us to find our own Christmas tree. We usually find a big Cyprus tree in someone's yard and ask them if we can lop the top off. This year we just couldn't find a good one. So finally just a day or two before Christmas we found a little one in a garden. It was more of a ball than a triangle but it worked. I let the kids decorate it all themselves this year (with the help of some of their neighbourhood friends).

Before...

... and after

Christmas morning was spent at the orphanage. The Borns and us made a massive breakfast for everyone. We read the Birth of Jesus, sang Christmas carols and gave out presents. As always, it was very special.

Christmas morning

Yum!

Sardines are always popular on their eggs (Seth and Jude have gone native as they love the combination)

Blessed enjoying his breakfast

One family from the States sent new bibles and cases for all of the older children. They even had their names embossed on them! The kids were SOOOOO excited with them.

Jake's Dad's church, Grace Baptist Church, in Henreitta, Texas, sent presents back with us for each of the children. They were full of little goodies like candy, pens, coloring books, skip ropes, and balls as well as some practical things like toothpaste and toothbrushes, socks, soap, etc. It was so cool to see the kids faces light up when opening them. For five of our children this was the very first time to ever celebrate Christmas!

Happy Kids!

Pa helping Blessed open his presents (Jude looking on!). Once again I have to say how impressed I was with my kids on Christmas morning. They had to wait till about 11am till we got home to open their own presents. I didn't hear one complaint from any of them. Once we did get back, we opened presents and then I got in the kitchen. We had some friends over for Christmas dinner and then we headed to our missionary friends for dessert. It was a really lovely Christmas day.

Usually we go camping on the beach for New Years with a bunch of other missionaries. We didn't feel we should go this year as we had just got back, so our awesome friends who we usually go with, decided to come up to Bamenda and celebrate the New Year with us here. We had a fantasitc week with them, hanging out, staying up way too late, eating way too much, hiking and picnicking.