THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD I SHALL NOT WANT.

Some of you will know that some time ago I was on the hunt for a good Solar Water Heater system. I phoned one of the leading companies to come and give us a quote but I felt it was a bit costly. Months passed and at the back of my mind I knew that it would save so much money if we could invest in this equipment. At the beginning of this month I decided to make it my top priority to go on line and phone all the dealers in the Dar es Salaam region who make solar water heaters. When I introduced myself to a man at “Solar Planet” and told him about the orphanage, he said that he would like to send a tank, solar panel and accessories with a man- today- and he would install it for us.
I said, “No, please don’t do that, all I want is a quote!” But he insisted and just this week he phoned again saying that his men were on the way. I began again to explain that first we needed a quote as we were unable to buy it without fundraising first. He then said” Madam, you have so many questions, please accept this is a gift for the children!”
It is so beautiful to see the genericity of God’s people.

You may remember too that we were broken into twice recently and we were advised to put up an electric fence. Last week an electric fence was put up surrounding our land protecting our children, animals and property. We would like to thank to Sabrina and her family in Italy, we would not have managed to do this without the gift you sent this month, thank you so much.
And a BIG THANK YOU to all our friends in England, Czech, New Zealand, Germany and all over the world, who are praying for us regularly, and supporting us. May you find too that the Lord is your shepherd and that you lack nothing!

Thanks too to Fr Benno our parish Priest here in Tanzania who this last weekend arranged for us all to go to a Retreat Centre in Dar es Salaam to receive from a prayer fellowship food to help us for the next month.

The Lord certainly is our Shepherd!

With love from us all at Karibu Nyumbani
  1599 Hits

PREPARING THE LAND and praying!


You may remember that we bought land at the end of last year for a school. Building a school is a big project and for now we ask if you can join us in prayer. We have 2 acres of land and to register a school we need 3 or 3 1/2 acres!! While praying, though, we have started to clear the land.
  1457 Hits

SCHOOL LAND PROVIDING CHARCOAL


Our men have been cutting trees and learning to making charcoal on our school site.
  1434 Hits

SMALL BUSINESSES


A big thanks to Ludmila this month who organized the selling of double the amount of milk (because of our new cow!) yoghurt, eggs and chicken, so the cost of feeding our animals was completely covered!!

Not only that, but our young ladies in the shop have been busy sewing and have made over 200 purses to sell to our parish ladies, to go with the Parish uniform!
  1515 Hits

COMPLETION OF STORES


Last year we were able to build 2 stores, but either for lack of time or cash we were unable to finish. Ester has been away this month, and it was on our heart to finish this while she was away so that she could get her office. For the last 2 years it was a store. Thanks David and others for making this happen!
  1420 Hits

GROWING WATER MELONS


Along with other crops mainly vegetables, we have started to grow Water Melons. Thanks to a good friend.
  1434 Hits

RAINY SEASON HAS STARTED

You never moan if it is rains here in Tanzania. In fact right the opposite. It is a sign of blessing. And these last few weeks we have had a lot of rain! The children use every moment to play and ride before and after the rains!
  1526 Hits

GUARD DOG NEEDED

Along with our newly wired Electric Fense, we are going to need a guard dog. It is possible to get a puppy and to have special training so if you would like to help us we would be so grateful.
  1416 Hits

GUARD DOG NEEDED

Along with our newly wired Electric Fense, we are going to need a guard dog. It is possible to get a puppy and to have special training so if you would like to help us we would be so grateful.
  1428 Hits

AS BIG AS THE SHOES WE WEAR!

This year has started with a bang!! Probably for you too! Life has a strange way of running away with itself. Our plans can be turned on their heads by the most unexpected happenings.

We don’t have a chapel “yet”, so most mornings, I leave Florian sleeping and I creep out of my room to my office to have my “special time” with the Lord before too much activity. This is the only time that seems to stand still. St Mark’s Gospel chpt. 4 stayed with me this week- Jesus said, “Let us go across the other side of the lake” – “Then a strong wind blew up”.

After seeing the amazing ways God has provided for us here in the last 4 years, I thought I could never doubt Him again. Yet with every new circumstance there’s needs for a new step of Faith.

The disciple’s trust was tested. Jesus was not disturbed by the storm, he wanted the disciples to be confident in him and to find the centre of stillness within themselves that only He can give. Along with that trust, and an authority, beyond their own, to command their situation to be at peace.

Florian is going through a stage of wanting to wear everyone else’s shoes except his own I am sure that when he wears my shoes he thinks he is me and Julian’s boots that he thinks he is as tall as Julian. My prayer is that we can learn to step into Jesus’s shoes so that we have a deep knowledge of Who God is, and to Trust Him. We had an attempted break in again this week, and we need to reinforce our wall with electric wire and get 2 watch dogs. Our water bill has strangely doubled. We are not able to sell our pigs. Some of the children are struggling with school and need special time. Bianca still doesn’t like to eat. All ordinary things of life stretching us “Mamas” to wear our Father’s Shoes! Please pray for us, as we continue to pray for all our friends. God bless you all and enjoy this month’s news!
  1614 Hits

HARVESTER’s GERARD AND JERRY VISIT OVERNIGHT.

We were so pleased to have Gerard return for his 4th time! He has seen this place grow from foundations to what we it is now. He has such a “Father Heart” not only for our children, but for the people – especially the men of Tanzania where he has ministered for many years. This year he travelled with Gerry and I don’t think it will be his only visit here. God bless you both for Hearts to bless and for leaving your families who missed you at home during this time.

Also a very big thank you to Gerard’s Great Grand Son who sent us some of his toys. The children love their gifts!
  1521 Hits

PICNIC FOR THE LADIES OF OUR PARISH! Outing for Ludmila and Fiona

In our village we have a small out church called “Christ the King”, our main Parish in Tumbi is about 15 minutes away by car. In the surrounding villages are another 8 out churches, and yesterday maybe 500 ladies from all the different villages picnicked together in the garden of the Main Parish where we are building a new church. Everyone happily cooking or preparing food and having fun together from 6am starting with Mass then breakfast and late lunch about 4pm! This was all at the invitation of the Parish Priest Fr. Benno who has a wonderful Charism of Joy and drawing people together.

Ludmila and I were very happy to leave our responsibilities at home and have a different type of day. As you can see – Ludmila never rests! But I took an opportunity after peeling garlic to close my eyes!
  1545 Hits

NEWS FLASH (From Kathryn)

Help Page updated - Take a look!!

CHILDREN CELEBRATE ST NICHOLAS.

Yesterday, during the children's prayer time, Julian told the story of St Nicolas, how he was a very unhappy rich man. St Nicolas noticed other rich people who were becoming happy by giving away their riches.
After the children's excitement that they were going to receive oranges and biscuits in their shoes, Ester reminded them that later in this season of Advent, they too were going to have an opportunity to visit poor people in the village. I felt humbled by seeing these children being asked to give away some of the little they have.
I have had some friends asking me how they can help the children here. Although the home and surroundings are beautiful, I am seeing that help is needed for daily expenses, which is why the shopping list idea might encourage even children to see that a little "regular" help can go a long way.

http://www.11.0.0.57/help-us
  1771 Hits

SURPRISE VISIT FROM LOCALS

Last Saturday was a full day. At 7am in the morning a large team of people from the NMB Bank arrived. Bringing maize, rice, beans and sugar. Thank you so much. You will never know how much we needed that!
  1591 Hits

Invited to Jasmin’s Birthday by her Mother Devota.

After goodbyes to NMB employees Saturday morning, along came a big bus to pick up our children, Aunties and volunteers to go to a birthday party. I wasn’t there so have no photo’s of the party but the children came back full of wonderful stories about good food and a bouncy castle!! Thank you so much Devota and Jasmine for the invitation to share this special day.
  1650 Hits

FRIENDS OF KATHYN

Mother and daughter-Michelle and Ellie, have come to stay for three weeks, with a trip to South Africa squeezed in at the end to see Michelle’s sister. They were wanting to have a cross cultural experience before Ellie heads off for Uni.
It is so good making new friends! - Thanks so much for coming!!
  1566 Hits

WHAT IS FIONA UP TO IN AFRICA?

Fiona was in New Zealand for 6 months, 7 years ago. A mutual friend of ours offered her a flight for some timeout and prayer. Fiona said to me recently "I was wondering when some of the friends I met in New Zealand would come and see what I was up to in Africa"....So here I am!!

From the moment I heard Karibu Nyumbani was even a possibility I knew that this was my dreams, to come and visit Fiona in her new world.
Since arriving two weeks ago, every dream has come true. I have so enjoyed seeing how this place has grown from nothing to what it is today. Seeing Gods provision and hearing so many stories of the right people being here at the right time during every step has touched my heart. Through faith, prayer and hard work Karibu Nyumbai is going to change the lives of so many children, and it's exciting to see the plans God has in store for the future.

I have another 6 weeks here, and judging by how amazing each day has been so far, I am going to have a life changing trip and I suspect this will not be my only one. Ester, Ludmila and Fiona make the most amazing Mama's, the Aunties, Uncles and Volunteers have such a genuine heart for the vision of Karibu Nyumbani and a love for the Children that words cannot describe.
I am learning not to be limited to my own expectations of what is possible in life. Being in Arica with Fiona, tells me anything is possible through God. So for now, I will finish with.. watch this space!!
  1712 Hits

OTHER CARITAS VOLUNTEERS COME FOR A SHORT TIME

MARIA AND LARA HAVE COME TO STAY FOR ONE MONTH AND SHARED WITH US A LITTLE TASTE OF THEIR EXPERIENCE IN SOUTH  TANZANIA - KYELA

Lara and I have come from Germany and our new home for 10 months is in Kyela-South of Tanzania. Our kindergarten is closed at the moment so we are at Karibu Nyumbani for a month. In Kyela we have enjoyed working in a kindergarten and also in the house, cooking, washing and cleaning. Water is in a problem there and we had to walk 800 meters taking usually 1 ½ hrs each day after our working day! In the beginning it was hard but we laugh every day and love the fact that the children are learning something from us. They are so funny, jokey and they are becoming like family. I have missed being so far away from my family but have loved getting to know the new culture and to really see how privileged we are in Germany. I has made me see that often what we think we need is not so necessary. The language was the hardest thing in the beginning for us both as it was a barrier not being able to understand or be understood, Language is so key to communication and creating a family.
It's been so nice coming to Karibu Nyumbani, the kids have so much choice as to what they can do in their free time. Having their own classroom is so good for extra learning and it's very nice that the children can speak two languages- English and Swahili. We have really enjoyed meeting up with two volunteers also from Germany and being able to eat the produce from karibu own garden has been wonderful. 
We love the way the children are really at home here. The facilities are stunning and luxurious in comparison to Kyela and we have felt like we are holiday. It's a wonderful place.
  1608 Hits

JANE AND FRIENDS

Bibi (Grandma)Jane our Patron came with her sister and friend Caroline and Angela for a short visit a few weeks ago. I am not sure that Jane likes to be called Bibi but the children certainly have a special place in their heart for her, as she obviously has for them. The three ‘Bibi’s came with all sorts of goodies for the children which members of their family helped them gather. Thank you all- it makes you feel part of our larger family!
  1579 Hits

SHOP (BY LUDMILA)

I am so happy to see the different profects in the shop doing so well. Last year I taught two girls from our village how to sew bags, purses, aprons and blouses and now they are able to sew without my assistance! Thanks to them we are selling bags in England, Czech and soon New Zealand. In the middle of November our chickens started to lay so it is great to sell eggs again. Also for the first time the other day we sold 30 kgs of our own pork!
  1647 Hits

EasyBlog - Quick Post Module