Today is the big day that our children have been waiting for – home decorating for Christmas! Each home where “big kids” live (ages 4-9) has its own Christmas tree. The children get to put their own angel ornament (with their name on the ornament) on the tree and then further decorate it any way they want. Then a group of kids heads to the Oasis to decorate the dining hall for the Christmas season. They are so good at remembering where each decoration goes, and we all work hard to make sure it looks the same each year. Other children will start to make paper chains that will strung from the rafters to bring joy and color to the building.
This week one of our staff members that doesn’t live with the children asked them what some of their favorite Christmas traditions were at home? The kids quickly answered that on Christmas day they ALWAYS get pancakes and bacon for breakfast, new pajamas as a gift and a fancy chocolate and then get to swim for the rest of the day (Christmas day typically sees temperatures well over 100F). We have worked very intentionally to have traditions that the kids can look forward to every year for Christmas, Easter, birthdays and any other annual event that we would celebrate with Spencer and Chloe. I was so happy to hear that it’s working and they love it.
This past week we had some local visitors (our first since lock down began on March 25th) and they brought a Christmas gift of 116 large cans of baby NAN formula (a $2,000+ donation!). As we stood at the children’s campus it was lunch time and the toddlers (2 years old) were called to go in and wash their hands and use the toilet. Every small child started to clean up the yard, pushing or carrying their myriad of toys over to the area that we put them away where they belonged. At a young age they are being taught responsibility and to take care of their things, which they do with great pride. It was a magical sight, and one that I never tire of.
Later we celebrated a birthday at the toddler home, and as part of our tradition, birthday-girl Carol got her very own birthday cake to share with her brothers and sisters in that home. The Aunties always dress each child in brand new clothes and shoes and make them feel honored on their special day. Many/most of these clothes and shoes are lovingly purchased by our Canadian Chairperson and friend, Carol Hickman, who just loves to shop for our kids (little Carol is her namesake).
We always pray a blessing over the child and then the children give thanks for the cake which they are about to eat. I will confess that my eyes were open during the prayer and I’m really glad they were so that I could snap these super cute photos!
This week wasn’t all Christmas decorating and birthday fun, it was also fraught with the usual challenges of working in Africa including a shepherd stripping naked in front of a supervisor for no apparent reason (drugs or witchcraft are expected) and the mysterious disappearance of 11 young cows (somehow linked to the naked man)?
We also had to further reduce our Khutsala Artisan staff, which is extra heartbreaking to do right before Christmas. We hope to be able to bring people back to work in 2021, but that can only happen if people buy our product on line. Please consider shopping with a purpose at www.khutsala.com and enjoy Black Friday sales this weekend.
Even with all the challenges we face, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
Live from Eswatini … It’s beginning to look a lot like
Christmas!
Janine
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