Tag Archives: movies

BE QUIET!

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I admit it, I sometimes raise my voice to the kids at Nice View.  I raised my voice when I was home all day with my own 4 and Saturday movie night is no exception since I’m around 99 kids.  And that’s if only the boarders are there, sometimes we have day scholar students stop by which takes the number to about 109!

It was the end of the evening, we finished Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, prayed for the evening and then dismissed everyone to bed.  We had desks around the door so there was just a little, tiny path for students to get out the door.  I tried several times to tell someone to take a desk outside so we’d have a bigger pathway, but no one was listening.  They simply wanted to get out in whatever fashion they could…over desks, over each other and squeeze out the door.  I finally had enough and told everyone to just stop where they were and yes my voice was raised at this point.  Once I had every one’s attention though I was able to get a couple of kids to remove desks so the path was wider.  

I see where I went wrong too (after discussing it with Chuck), next week I’ll access the situation before anyone gets up to leave, make any necessary requests then have everyone leave in an orderly fashion.  Let’s see how that works.

Whew!  I’m not trying to be hard on them just to be a jerk (although they may think I am, just like my own kids did at times!).  I want these kids, as I wanted my own, to be respectful human beings.  Am I asking too much of them to be courteous to each other and to me?  I don’t think so…getting them to really understand what it means to love your neighbor as yourself is a life lesson and one these kids can learn by living harmonously together at Nice View.

Movie night in pictures…

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Saturday evening began with Chuck giving Nick a tour of the Academy while I set up the equipment.  Here’s Chuck, Nick and Christopher in front of the kitchen and on top of the school building -

During the tour the kids were served dinner of ugali (flour and water boiled to a cake-like consistency but definitely not tasting like cake, I don’t like ugali but the kids seem to love it) and green grams (a pea-like veggie and yummy!).  Teacher Jane cuts the ugali into smaller pieces for the kids -

After getting their ugali next is green grams where Josphat helped serve everyone -

Then it was time to enjoy dinner.  Since we have no dining hall the kids find a place to sit around campus…anywhere they can find -

During dinner a few of the kids were bringing water to the kitchen for washing, Faith kept track of who brought water so the next day others would be responsible…this way everyone helps -

After everyone is served the ugali is all gone -

Once I got the equipment set up I walked around just talking to the kids.  These three girls were in a classroom eating and one of the first questions they asked me was if I had the movies Cinderella or High School Musical.  I do not have either and don’t even know what High School Musical is!  I’m not sure how well the boys would enjoy either movie but said I’d put them on the wish list -

After everyone was done with dinner it was time to line up for the movie -

As everyone came into the room sweets (candy) were handed out to everyone.  Thank you Nick!  Seems everyone enjoyed Harry Potter, The Socerer’s Stone and looking forward to next week – Harry Potter, The Chamber of Secrets.  Pastor Mutie closed the evening for us in prayer and once I had all the equipment packed up these fine young men helped carry everything back to the office -

Another Saturday movie night comes to a close!

Playing, singing, laughing, talking…what else?

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Sorry I’ve been away for a few days.  Our visitor, Bobbie, arrived Friday night.  She had an hour delay from London and another hour to get her luggage so we finally pulled into the compound around midnight.  Of course we went right to bed…yeah right, we stayed up until 3 am talking!  We did however sleep in Saturday morning then just hung around the house so Bobbie could settle a bit, meet Bella and we talked and got to know each other.  It was great and we had an immediate connection!

Then I got to open up our suitcase that Chuck’s parents so graciously packed for us and Bobbie offered to be the “pack mule” for it!  What a treat!!

Read the personal letter?  Look at the photos?  Nope I opened the chocolate covered raisins right away!  But it was a beautiful letter and I loved the photos (I had put on our list of items to send Tarrin, Justin, Mark & Amanda so dad said the photos were the best he could do!  I love it!  Thanks mom and dad and my mom for sending homemade diapers – they will be given as gifts to needy moms)

That night we headed to the Academy for movie night:

The kids got soda and by the time we finished handing it out and getting the kids settled for Lord of the Rings the first kids had already drank theirs!  Oh well guess they’ll have to learn to ration their soda next time.  Bobbie said our closing prayer and she is so good with the kids!  Thank you Lord for her passion for Your children!

Sunday we listened to Pastor Ray from Desert Breeze Community Church on iTunes..older sermon because we are having a hard time downloading anything new (yea that’s a hint for our DB peeps!) then it was off to the Academy for some play time (Bobbie taught the little ones how to kick the soccer ball), crafting (Bobbie is quite crafty-ok had to say that but it was a very simple craft and she says herself it’s her type of craft!) and chatting (Bobbie loves telling the kids how beautiful they are and how very much God loves them-the perfect words for them to hear!):

Monday we spent at the Academy handing out uniforms, which Bobbie helped raise funds for…thanks! 

Tuesday – first I drove us to the market!  Yup I’m driving on the left!

and I bartered for things again…I’m feeling so local!

Then Bobbie spoke to Form 4 (12th grade) students at Pauline’s school, Father Herron.  Plus she got to teach them a new song!  (Sorry no photo)

After that we visited the kids at Mercy Child Foundation.  When we arrived Annastacia (house mum) was in bed still sick.  Bobbie prayed with her and gave her a gift:

I gave Bobbie the tour, introduced her to the kids and she taught them a song!  They love music and I bet they will remember her songs…I’ll have to ask them the next time I see them!

Wednesday we spent at Nice View Academy for the last day of school and their closing program.  The kids did skits, poems, songs and dances for us and guess what?  Bobbie taught them a song!  I’m hoping to put a video up in a few days of a beautiful, passion filled monologue by one of the students.

The kids were pretty relaxed for the last day.  They were supposed to be picked up by around 5 but several were still there around 6:30pm so they’ll stay at the orphanage and see if someone comes to pick them up tomorrow…pray these kids are not forgotten.  We love them and pray for safe travels home and during the break.

After the closing ceremony we visited a students family, Ruth.  We held kids, talked and Bobbie read a story: 

 

 

That brings us to today, Thursday.  Spent the morning reading and talking while Bobbie checked her flight status…we leave tomorrow for Nairobi at 4am!  Then we headed to the Academy and found no kids!  That’s a good thing since some of them, as I mentioned above, weren’t picked up Wednesday night so everyone is gone and the compound was extremenly quiet.  As we were leaving Bobbie mentioned that it was her last time leaving the Academy and I told her it was easier since no kids were there. 

Please pray for the students, teachers and families while break is on.  May the students and teachers all come back rested and ready to work for another term!

Saturday play is back on!

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The kids at the Academy were quite anxious to get playtime and movie night back on the schedule and we were able to accomplish both this past Saturday to the delight of everyone!

We had a few problems with the movie…speakers blew their fuse so we had to set up my computer with computer speakers (which weren’t quite loud enough) but after much concern on the kids’ part we got everything up and running.  Now the issue is finding another fuse here in Tala!

But before movie night we had the opportunity to get out some soccer balls, jump ropes, tennis balls and frisbees and you could hear laughter throughout the compound all Saturday afternoon.  Thank you Lord for that beautiful sound!

Wednesday’s song…

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I Like to Move It - this song is from the movie Madagascar, a favorite on movie night.  I think the kids loved the beat and watching the monkey dance during the credits.

I have this as a ring-tone on my phone and whenever I hear it I remember the kids at Nice View dancing out the doors to this song after the movie!

Movie night!

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While we were in Kenya we began a movie night every Saturday at Nice View Academy/Orphanage.  The kids would go to school during the day until around 2 then the kids who live at the orphanage would do their chores (wash clothes, sweep the dorm, clean the compound etc.).  Around 5:30pm or so we would have dinner and wait for the crazy dark!  Then Chuck and I and a couple of helpers would take all our a/v equipment to a classroom to set up the movie.  We have an electrical converter (going from 240v to 110v), DVD player, projector and speaker system at Nice View, but we use a white sheet for a screen which works great, very flexible and easy to carry around!

While my helpers and I would set up the equipment, Mutie (the night watchman) would hang the “screen” and Chuck (with a couple more helpers) would bring the snacks to the room.  Meanwhile there would begin to be a buzz in the compound, “what movie are we going to watch?”, “we’re having soda!”, “are they ever going to be finished setting up so we can get into the room!?” and finding their friend so they can sit next to each other when the door opens.

The first week we had the kids who live at the orphanage gather for the movie, the next week we noticed that Jane and Catherine (both teachers at Nice View and who live on the Academy’s compound) joined us for the movie, then after that people would happen to be around Nice View at movie time – usually they were family members of either the students or teachers.  Everyone was welcome and we would arrange desks, sit on tables and bring in chairs so everyone could watch the movie.

Movie Night

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Movie night

For snack we would have either popcorn and soda, chips and soda or biscuits (shortbread-type cookies) and milk.  I preferred the cookies and milk but the kids voted on the popcorn and soda.  Since it’s only once a week I guess it’s ok! 

Each child would stand in line at the door with their own plate – they each have a dish they are responsible for and use this for all meals at Nice View.  Many times while kids are lining up I will have to ask if everyone is there, because of the crazy dark I couldn’t see how long the line was and they are unusually quiet in line because they don’t want to take a chance on being sent to their room for being unruly!

When everyone was in line they would be allowed into the “theatre”, each would stop at the snack area, get their bowl/plate filled with popcorn, get a soda and find a seat.  As you can see from the pictures they are sitting two to three at a desk, but no one really cared because they were so excited to see the movie.

Once all the kids were seated a hush would come over the crowd as they waited for the movie to begin and once it started their full attention was on the movie!  After the movie was over we would say a prayer of thanks and safety throughout the night then everyone went off to bed. 

It was such fun bringing them something as simple as a movie to brighten their evening, something for them to look forward to during the day.  We plan on starting movie night back up once we return to Kenya so if you have any DVD’s of movies and/or television shows you would like to donate to Saved By God’s Grace please send them to 4410 W. Union Hills Drive, Suite #7, Glendale, AZ  85308-1656 or you can give them to Chuck or I if you see us!

Movie night at the Academy

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Every Saturday night while we were in Tala, Kenya we would set up our projector/dvd player/speakers and have a movie night. We found the kids love action movies and they really seem to enjoy slapstick humor (falling down and such nonsense as that!)

We would also have snacks – one night we had crisps (chips) and soda, another night would be popcorn and juice then another night would be biscuits (cookies) and milk. Now being a mom the cookies and milk were ok with me as the milk didn’t have as much sugar, but the kids voted the popcorn and soda the winner snack hands-down!

After the first couple of Saturday’s we found many of the adults at the Academy (teachers, night watchmen etc.) would show up just about the time the snacks would be handed out and the movie started!

It was so neat to see the kids enjoy a “night out” even if it was in a classroom with a sheet for a screen and sitting three to a desk! We’ve heard from Gideon and Pauline that the kids are anxious for us to come back so we can again start our traditional Saturday night movie time.

If you have any DVD’s (PG-13 or below) you’d like to donate please send them to Saved By God’s Grace at 4410 W. Union Hills Drive, Suite #7, Glendale, Arizona 85308. Thank you!

A fulfilling Saturday!

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Saturday was a busy day, but a good day. We got over to the Academy around 10 and the kids were still having classes (they have extra tutoring on Saturday’s from around 8-1). So that’s when I updated the blog – love this internet modem! After lunch we had a home visit to Ruth Mumbua’s home. She has six siblings with a single mom. Sometime earlier in the year her mom was cooking in their outside kitchen when a wall fell on her and her son, killing the seven year old boy and injuring mom’s hip. Her husband died suddenly when her youngest was only 8 months old (now the youngest is about 18 months old) She has been struggling ever since – when we visited they had not had any food in the house for a couple of days. The younger ones were begging from the neighbors to eat and Ruth was only eating what she received at the school – which is porridge in the morning and lunch before going home. We are working with mom to see what we can do to help and how we can help. It’s a bit different here in that you can’t just give someone money or food in fear that someone may rob them of it. And it was a real concern of moms so we told her we would work something out. Ruth said they have been praying for another uniform for her – since she only has one and trying to keep that one clean all the time is hard and a school bag (backpack). We have backpacks at the school so Monday we’ll get her one – so one prayer answered – AMEN! She’s such a sweet and smart girl, she’s ranked #9 in her class (6th grade) out of 31! These are the people you are helping, not only putting food in their stomachs but giving them a reason to succeed, a reason to have hope. They are being told it is only through God’s grace that we are here helping and He is the reason to have that hope for the future.

Then upon our return we got the balls out and had the field full of kids again playing. It was great to sit and watch them playing and laughing together. I only handed out a couple of hackies and one was to Kelvin who really has skill with it. While we were watching, Moses the one on my right, wanted a picture of us together. But here once the camera is out a mob arises and you can’t get just one picture with someone! He’s such a sweet kid and loves hugs (I told him Tarrin was missing my hugs so I think he’s helping in that area!) He was walking around school the other day and he usually has a smile, but this day he didn’t so I asked him what was wrong. (Most of the kids don’t feel comfortable telling us their stories). When he said nothing was wrong I told him to talk to Ruth (being the house mom they tell her everything!) He said he hadn’t been able to reach his mom for some needed items (he is a border here) and he was very sad and started to cry. We told him we had the items he needed so not to worry about it. Ruth said his mother is very hard to reach and many times they never hear from her during the school term. So Moses is aching for human interaction and hugs which I am only too happy to give him! He’s another person you are helping with your support – he is able to live here among people who love him and want him around.
Then everyone had dinner while we got the projector set up for movie night. We got popcorn (already popped from the grocery store) and juice for everyone. We watched Homeward Bound and everyone had a good time. To give these kids an opportunity to just relax, have some popcorn and watch a movie – to just be a kid not wondering if mom will visit, not worrying about school exams or thinking about their home situations. These times are possible through God’s grace and love for us all.