This past week has been filled with an activities week for the home children. As it is their school holidays, Sarah and Simon asked us volunteers if we would hold a special week for them filled with fun. The title of this post was the theme to the week, we also studied the life of Simon Peter. We had an hour's devotional time at the start of each day with songs, a drama by us volunteers, a talk with some discussion topics in groups and prayers. The children seemed to really enjoy this part of the day, particularly surprising them with water being poured on them when we acted Simon Peter stepping out of the boat. I lead a group of older girls for the dicussion time which was really nice and we managed to talk through the different parts of Peter's life and how we can relate to it ourselves and build upon for our own lives. We then had different craft activities each day, the first was bracelets, the second was pompoms, the third was bookmarks and the fourth was rainbow slates. They all loved doing each of these and spent the maximum time they could making them all look beautiful. We were so impressed by how much they wanted to do the craft, even the boys loved it! We then had lunch down at the girls home, which would be rice with something like tomatoes etc, you wouldnt come to India and not expect rice for lunch! After a short rest time we had the afternoon to do games with them. We did rounders and parachute games, water games and also a huge treasure hunt on one of the days across the compound. It was hard work walking up and down, up and down the compund to hide all the clues but the children loved it which made it all worth while! We would then watch a christian film or play songs to relax after active games. The week was such a success and I loved every part of it. The children all seemed to really enjoy themselves too and hopefully learnt alot.
Last Sunday was a baptismal service for 2 of the home children. It was a baptismal service I have never seen before, it was amazing! After a 2 hour service at their church we walked down the path back to the pool which is at the back of Sarah and Simon's house. The pool was covered in red and purple flowers floating on the top, such a beautiful effect. The three were then baptised and 2 changed their names from Hindu names to Christian names, quite hard adjusting and to learn their new names after attempting to remember their birth names, I have learnt names really aren't a strong point of mine so have been thinking of ways to remember them all which proved quite fun! We then proceeded to sit under a big tree they have in their garden for communion and photos. It was such a special day and I am so pleased that I got to be a part of it.
Tomorrow us four volunteers that are still here are getting to go on a holiday as the children have now gone back for 2 weeks. We go for 1 week to a place called Kovalam. It should be so much fun and I am really looking forward to relaxing and seeing more of the Indian culture else where, in the south. If you would lik eto pray, please pray for safe journeys ( we catch an overnight bus each way, the indian road rules are nothing like English!!) for safety through out our whole time there and to feel very refreshed after a busy week! Also, pray that Sarah and Simon will feel relaxed too over this 2 weeks the children are gone, they are incredibly hard working and they really deserve a good rest before the children return again.
Love, Hannah
Last Sunday was a baptismal service for 2 of the home children. It was a baptismal service I have never seen before, it was amazing! After a 2 hour service at their church we walked down the path back to the pool which is at the back of Sarah and Simon's house. The pool was covered in red and purple flowers floating on the top, such a beautiful effect. The three were then baptised and 2 changed their names from Hindu names to Christian names, quite hard adjusting and to learn their new names after attempting to remember their birth names, I have learnt names really aren't a strong point of mine so have been thinking of ways to remember them all which proved quite fun! We then proceeded to sit under a big tree they have in their garden for communion and photos. It was such a special day and I am so pleased that I got to be a part of it.
Tomorrow us four volunteers that are still here are getting to go on a holiday as the children have now gone back for 2 weeks. We go for 1 week to a place called Kovalam. It should be so much fun and I am really looking forward to relaxing and seeing more of the Indian culture else where, in the south. If you would lik eto pray, please pray for safe journeys ( we catch an overnight bus each way, the indian road rules are nothing like English!!) for safety through out our whole time there and to feel very refreshed after a busy week! Also, pray that Sarah and Simon will feel relaxed too over this 2 weeks the children are gone, they are incredibly hard working and they really deserve a good rest before the children return again.
Love, Hannah
