Halfway and My Last Weekend in Ongole - Then Back to Hyderabad.

                         6 good reasons to come to Ongole

A lovely evening with 6 adorable Americans (OK girls, they all talk American but are specifically, a Mexican, a Filipino, and 4 Americans!! - they've been correcting me for 2 weeks, making me have to explain my jokes to then AND making fun of my accent!).
I invited them all out on a dinner date - the day BEFORE Valentine's Day Ann!
They chose from an a la carte meal and still have change from 22,000 Rupees? - Hey girls you weren't supposed to eat all you could!

Actually that cost me less than £22 but don't tell them - it spoils the gesture! 
A meal for 7 including starters, mains, desserts and soft drinks!
And such great company......... wasn't I ladies?



They've been great company - all mad in different ways - but all wanting to serve God however He wants them to and to learn. For these World Race team young people - it's a hard but marvellous life and spiritual experience for them and they are such a blessing to the people and tribes that they involve with on their 11 months journey. World Race Walkers folks - you heard it here.

When they weren't doing our work at Victory Home and annoying me - they were working with the children in the Covenant Homes here in Ongole - next month they go to Nepal - I'll miss them.

Then there's their colleagues from a separate team - I have to share the apartment with them!!! Now I ask - which group make the place more attractive?

 Actually, they are all fine young Americans and they have been lovely guys to get to know - so sincere and wanting to be and do their best for God. While the girls have been working hard with me - these 3 and the 3 girls in their team have been visiting the more remote areas to work. 

Thanks for your company Ken, Mike and Heath. 

Today, Friday 14th February was one of the best so far. penultimate day of working at Victory Home. Upon our arrival we presented 'SECURITEE' with a hat I'd sourced to make him 'official' - he was DELIGHTED - skipping around in it and making everyone of us laugh because he was so thrilled. 

Then when we walked into the yard where we'd dug the bare area - the ladies had filled it with vegetable and flower plants and seeds that we'd brought the previous evening. It was thrilling to see the pride and joy in their faces and the difference that filling it with plants made to it.

News on kiddies:

Jasmine recently learned to walk, but wasn't so sure about walking in her new special shoes that provide the ankle support she needs. Taking Jeffrey for a walk proved to be the motivation she needed to walk all over the roof at SCH-Hyderabad in her new shoes.

 

 So - Jeffrey did come in useful other than to test my bed!!!

AND - a very determined young lady - 

Rachel practices daily to learn to walk with her new prosthetic leg. She has gone from two-handed support to one-handed, and now can walk unsupported. Her knee buckled once and it threw her confidence, but she's working hard to learn the stride. Soon she'll be working on stairs. Every day they make minor adjustments to the leg. By Tuesday she should be able to take it home!

The thing I've realised by being here - although there is no Organisation to help with the finance and running of SCH - there are various individuals and other groups who do actually come, get involved and are a vital part of making the whole work. So from Hula Hoopers to Painters and Diggers, Nurses to old men on their own - the whole is the sum of its parts - driven by a God who cares even for the sparrows.