A Days Adventure With Mr. Toad...

The other day Laurie and I had a lovely day hanging out, and caring for the youngest four boys Rethabile, Tumelo, Tumi, and Sthembile. 

Rethabile and Tumelo have adopted the nick-name of the Terrible Two. They are quite the pair. They always seem to be getting into something, as you can imagine any four and three year old boy would be.

The other day to their delight, while the normal adventuring outside, they found a little friend.

-Rethibile-

-The Terrible Two-

Just their type indeed! With  all his tolerant behavior, inviting looks, friendly charms, not to mention his slow getaway skills, this fine fellow was welcomed quickly into the boys duo. 

I went outside to see what all the Sotho chatter was about and there and behold, was our afternoon guest and entertainment: Mr. Toad!

Mr. Toad

-Tumi wasn't that into it-

After all the fun with our friend Mr. Toad, we sent him on his way.  We all then worked on a few English words and shape. Retibelie has really picked up a lot of words quickly. He is understanding so much. Tomelo is working on it. He learns the words of food much quicker than shapes. He might not quite be able to remember which is red or green, but he knows what a crasins and almonds are! J

As Laurie and I are stepping back from our house mothering duties, (because RHI has now hired a new relief house mother) we will have much more time to work with the boys with basic English, and begin some kindergarten learning! It is really amazing to see just how much the boys have grown up since being here. I am sure when we first arrived they thought having two white mamas speaking in a different language was pretty silly, but it seems like Mama Lulay, and Mama Nthabisang (what the boys call Laurie and I) have made a little place in their lives, that hopefully they will be able gain something from it. If only by simply teaching them shapes, or caring for them, we hope that they would be shown the love of the Lord through me in some way.

Please pray for these boys.

 Though they do not understand it yet, we pray that they would one day know the love of Jesus in their lives. We pray for them now, for protection and peace for their lives.  For some of the children we don’t know how long they will be with us at The Village. We know that the Lord has had them safely in His hands since He created them in their mother’s womb, and will continue to hold them in His loving hands wherever they go or stay. 

 We pray for their lives; and are blessed to be able to hold and love them now.

“You hem me in, behind and before,

And lay your hand upon me…

For you formed me in my inmost parts;

You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

My soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

When I was being made in secret,

Intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

In your book were written, every one of them,

The days that were formed for me, when as of yet there were none of them.”- Psalm 139:5,13-16

Sthembile-nothing beats a happy baby in a onesie