Happy Holi!

On the 20^th of March we celebrated Holi, a festival to celebrate the beginning of the spring. What it’s basically all about is COLOR. Everyone carries around bags of colored powder which you can throw on other people while you wish them a ‘Happy Holi’. In House of Hope we had a huge explosion of pink, purple, green yellow and blue with a lot of water. It eventually ended up in a mud fight and we had a lot of fun. Pictures say more than a thousand words, so enjoy:

New Furniture!

Slowly but steady we are getting an extreme home makeover! A few months ago, the inside of the house was given a fresh coat of paint. A few weeks ago, the play area was renovated and is now looking bright and colorful. And this week we got new furniture! It's as if we have a brand new living room. The kids love reading their books here, and the staff doesn’t mind joining them! It has been a lot of work, but a lot of fun as well to make this house a home!

Wouldn't you like to come sit and join us for some tea?

And we'll leave you with a few pictures of just some of the smiling faces from around our home: 

Angel enjoying bath time

Chetan is all smiles!

Sakshi and Sanatan with their best friends Justin, Jaleesa and Nadine

Prasanna the high jumper!

Karuna

Karuna, who has been living with us in House of Hope for 3 years, suddenly passed away last night. She was HIV positive and suffering from 5 brain tumors which caused regular seizures. She had been weak for months, but she was feeling better the last few weeks. Yesterday she shared with Sangita how happy and thankful she was living with us. She leaves her daughter Sakshi behind with us in House of Hope. Tomorrow we will have a memorial service with all the children.


Her death is sad for all of us and we will miss Karuna's sweet smile. But we are thankful for our time with Karuna and for the physical, emotional and spiritual transformation she experienced in the last years of her life. We know that she is in heaven with Jesus where she is fully restored with no more pain. 

Happy Birthday Sangita

Last week we celebrated Sangita’s birthday in House of Hope. Sangita has been working with us from the beginning and she is an angel. She definitely deserved some special attention on this day because Sangita turned 50! All the kids were excited and were wearing their best clothes. We had a big lunch together and we played outside in our clean and painted garden. It was a day of fun with a lot of cake and presents.


Nicole and Sangita




Keruna, Sangita, Justin and Nadine

 It has been so beautiful to watch Sangita grow in her leadership and responsibility at House of Hope over the past several years. She is completely overseeing all of House of Hope and is also working at our school, Bright Star Education. She is like a mother to all the children at House of Hope. Her gentle and steady leadership has been a great blessing for all of us. Sangita is also quite the prankster and always keeps us laughing. We are so thankful for her life, her service and her friendship!

Home Improvement

We recently had a team come to volunteer at House of Hope for a few weeks. They spent lots of time with the children, but while the kids were in school, the team was a huge help and did some major improvements to our outside play area. We are very thankful for all their hard work! Now our children have a nice, colorful place to play.

Amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do!

Vishal and Swamily

We are pleased to introduce our two new members at House of Hope - Vishal and Swamily

They are both going to our school, Bright Star Education. Vishal is the right age for kindergarten and this is his first time to go to school. He is really enjoying it! Swamily was in 3rd standard before she came to us but could barely read so we have started her in an accelerated kindergarten program so that she will be ready for 1st grade next year. We are so happy to provide these children with a home where they can be loved!

Christmas - a time to remember!

"Mom, when I grow up, I also want to work in an orphanage". Jaleesa, our oldest daugther, has seen the very beginnings of House of Hope first hand. She has seen the miracles and struggles, living and dying, but also the possibilities in DOING the impossible.

The 14 children in House of Hope have experience how hope exists and what a powerful thing hope is when faced with difficult situations. As we know and celebrate this Christmas that Jesus came to this earth to bring life in abundance, it is that very life to be passed on to others, and when really necessary with words. To give life is far from difficult as Shaheena and the other children are living proof of this.

In the picture on the left, Shaheena is 4,5kg in weight and dying of Aids. Now, five years later (she is 9 years old now) she has transformed into a beautiful, intelligent girl. She wants to be teacher :).

All the children wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!