After Wes and I took them to Scripture to see what God’s Word says about discipline, Josh and Christy Moran shared from their own parenting experience some very practical ways to put the scriptures into practice. They started out with an activity where we were all asked to go from the school room to the kitchen using any route we wanted. However, we were told that there were dangers along the way but failed to tell us where they were. After we all made it to the kitchen, Josh informed us that none of us had made it safely. Some of us took the path that led to the water filled with crocodiles. Some of us walked right off the cliff. Some of us walked through the den of lions. There was only one safe path, and none of us took it. This helped us all to see the importance of letting children know their boundaries so that they will know of the dangers that face them.
After the workshop, we had a surprise graduation party for Elizabeth, our Social Worker. Although Elizabeth finished school nearly two years ago, the school had not held an “official” graduation and she had not received her certificate. Two weeks ago she was informed that the graduation would be held on a certain date, but then it was changed at the last moment to another date. Elizabeth made the first trip for the graduation, but decided not to make the second one. Wes picked up her certificate, but we knew she was feeling sad about not attending the actual graduation. We told her that she needed to go put on her graduation suit that her sister had given her. She thought it was all part of the workshop and that it had to do with obedience. Elizabeth, being the sweet young lady that she is, walked back to her house and came back wearing her graduation suit. When she entered the room we were all singing and dancing in her honor, with Kalenga on the guitar and Mulenga on the drums. She still did not know what was going on until we pointed to the board where we had hung the words, “Congratulations Graduate.” After that there were lots of hugs, cake and pictures.
I can't tell you all that is happening at New Day right now, because I'm writing this from Botswana where I have traveled with IMB missionary, Staci Powers so that she could attend a wedding. I do know that the electric company has been working at the orphanage the last few days, but Wes says they still have much to do before they are ready to switch us on. We are excited that they have kept their promise to come out this week, and we look forward to having electricity very soon.
