Arrivals, departures, an almighty storm and some snakes

I can't believe that I've only got 5 more posts to do before I come home! It's reallys starting to hit me now that I'll be leaving very soon and that I'll have to say goodbye to all the children. I'm so close to all the children so it's going to be so hard. On the plus side though it will be nice to come home and see all my family and friends again!

Well it's been a very topspy turvy week. On Sunday one of our volunteers left as she'd completed her 6 months here. We took her to the airport, dropped her off and then had to wait 5 hours before we our new volunteer arrived. We decided to go and see a movie at a huge shopping centre near the airport. Anyways after the movie eventually got started after 3 attempts (seriously every time I go to the movies there's a problem!!!) we headed back to the airport. That half an hour was one of the scariest of my life. We got caught out in the middle of the worst thunder storm I've ever seen. We could see lightning hitting the ground all around us! Seriously a lot of prayer went on in that car as the roads were flooded (the roads have no drainage) and cars who'd been struck were just sitting ducks (literally!) in the road. Ever bridge we went under there were cars stopped so we had to keep plodding on. We eventually got to the airport alive and the storm passed. Our new volunteer Sophie arrived safely and we got home with no more problems at about 11pm! Man I was tired! She seems to be settling in really well and is getting along nicely with all the children! David and Glen from my church back home also arrived this week. They've been involved in the project for years now, really from when everything began and they come out for generally 3 months twice a year. It was so lovely to see some familiar faces and get some lovely hugs from them!!!

Thanks for all your prayers for the two little boys that were in hosptial (first two pictures), I'm happy to say that they are both home now. They were discharged on Monday, praise the Lord! They are both doing very well and are visibly so happy to be back at home. Unfortunately we had to admit one of the little baby girls (bottom picture) to hospital on Thursday. She aspirated some milk and so was struggling to breath. She is doing much better already and hopefully will be home on Monday. Again your prayers would be greatly appreciated.

We had a new arrival last week in the form of a beautiful little 3 year old girl. She has been placed in a house with all girls as she has sufferent horrendous abuse in her short little life. When she arrived she had the usual "death stare" as we call it and was visibly distressed. However she has instantly bonded with her new house mother and is even calling her "mummy" which really is a result. Then on Thursday as we arrived at devotions I saw her and said hello and she smiled at me. Ah it was so amazing. It was such a beautiful smile. Praise God, we're really making quick progress with her! I sat with her on my lap and she seemed so comfortable in my presence. It was such a special time for me. I've not taken a picture of her yet as I think she would be rather confused as to what I was doing as she has come straight from the community and didn't even know what a mirror was. She really have lived a horrid life up until now. From now on though she will receive so much Godly love and attention- something she so very clearly deserves!
The weather is certainly heating up now we're into February so with that the snakes have come out. In the last week I've seen 3 snakes, one of which was poisonous (but not deadly). As most of you know I'm not particularly fond of spiders, snakes and generally all things creppy and crawly so I'm having to adapt fast to this new threat! Prayers again greatly appreciated!!!