Day 4 - Pamper evening!

Hello viewers of our amazing blog... Well, today has been another scorcher, in more ways than one.  Not quite a lie in - up at 4.45 again (although most people managed to sleep til 6) to the most beautiful pink & misty sunrise.  We're so fortunate that although it's been meltingly hot during the day, it gradually cools overnight to revive us.

We prepared the house for the pamper evening this morning, and were then told that the children from the school would be receiving their monthly 'positive discipline' points, which they were then able to spend in the 'shop'.  This was a big deal for the children - they had all built up their points through good behaviour, manners, taking care of their clothes, respecting each other, taking care in their appearance and doing their chores.  Each one reappeared at the door clutching their gifts and Helga took a photo of them.  We were moved almost to tears when one of the older boys told us that he had got two gifts for his mum...wow.

This afternoon was another brilliant 'Pirate Holiday Club' with a much overacted story of how Jesus calmed the storm on the lake. Alejandra managed to persuade some of the kids to sing 'Wide & Deep' in English to everyone which was brilliant.

We then split into the older & younger groups where the older children were taught how to play Benchball, with great success - impressive to see the teamwork and how the older kids helped the younger ones.  We went outside and created our own version of Duck Duck Goose, 'Pirate Pirate Treasure', played by squirting water on each persons head as they went around the circle - inspired by Naomi, we were all soaked by the end, thankfully as it was boiling out on the field.

The most incredible part of the afternoon was also the most unexpected - today's 'craft' activity was to stick coloured stickers onto a sheet with different animals - the 14 year old boys sat perfectly happily for half an hour doing this activity....wow!  It's such a humbling experience being here.  We have all said how brilliant it is that they all enjoy the activities, no complaints or boredom.

This evening was our much anticipated and prayed for 'Pamper' evening for all the women who work here.  We decorated the living room with posters in English & Spanish ...'Jesus loves You'; 'God Bless You'; 'We are sisters in Christ' and draped many of the wonderful scarves that had been donated over the chairs, around windows and over tables to create a calming atmosphere with rose scented candles and worship music in the background.

We sang to them in Spanish - 'Vine adorate' and thanked them for their generosity of time, love and care towards us, and in their work here.  We then washed and massaged their feet and hands and prayed for them.  At the end we gave them each a bag of 'goodies' which we had put together with all the wonderful gifts donated by everyone at home.

With Alejandra's professional colour training, we had taken time to match all the items and then give them specifically to certain people if we felt 'called' to do so...the results were only possible through divine intervention - one lady was in tears saying the verse on her bookmark was written for her, another had earrings which she'd lost previously.

Many others were in tears of joy opening their bags, trying on their scarves and smelling the scents of their lotions.  We also noticed that some of them started to do each others hair.  Brilliant - it even led to us washing each others feet - even Ben's(!) afterwards.

Right now there is a storm with 'proper' rain...hopefully the air will have cleared a bit and tomorrow might be a little less hot.

Good night and God bless,
love Carlotta aka Charlotte