Parties, Presents and Performances

Christmas may be over but the memories will last a lifetime!

For us Christmas started in November, when we made angel Christmas cards, using handprints - very messy, but a lot of fun.

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On December 6th we had our first performance and party at Peris, where the audience was treated to some Christmas carols sung by the choir, played by the band and soloists and handbell group and some ballet and hip hop performances too! After this, all the kids joined in some Christmas games and decorated "cookies" (which were soon devoured), before settling down to watch a Christmas film with popcorn and hot chocolate.

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On the 8th December, we had another party and film at Voluntari.

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On the 15th December, Alpha Omega church gave a party for some of the music kids. The kids  performed once again before being treated to some Romanian food - Sarmale (pork filled cabbage rolls) and prajiture (Romanian cakes). After a few games, they each recieved presents before having to return to the orpahange.

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On Christmas day, the "boys" and "girls" from the Transition Houses, some of our graduates and staff celebrated Christmas at the teamhouse.

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Over the Christmas period, we also visited several orpahanges to deliver over 600 Christmas presents.

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The fun didn't stop there.  At New Year, some of our graduates, the Transition House "girls" and "boys", staff and our holiday team saw in the New Year together, with a meal, dancing, chatting and watching the many fireworks around Pipera and beyond.

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A great end to 2012 and great start to 2013. I wish you all a Happy, Healthy 2013 with God's richest blessings.

Ruthie's 2nd birthday

Last week Ruthie was 2 and we celebrated with a party at the teamhouse. I don’t know who had more fun Ruthie and Emmy or the adults!! 

 
                 No more pictures please! Anyone would think it was my birthday or something!!

                                                           Let me concentrate!

                                                     Hooray, I'm finished!

                                                   You're never too young to serve.

                                                             What's in here?

                                                            Look what I got.

                                      

                                                             Big breath! Happy Birthday to me!

Back to school

October saw the start of our new school programme. This year I am teaching music at 2 orphanages, to 4 girls in the Girl’s Transition House Programme and changing nappies, feeding and cuddling babies at the baby hospital.

At the 2 orphanages, I have 7 general music classes, 18 instrumental pupils learning either, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and percussion aswell as a band. Two of the girls at the transition house are learning the flute and two are learning the piano and they all want to sing, so we are going to be learning some Christmas songs to perform at various places over the Christmas period.

                                           "Follow the instrument"

                                          Recorder class

                                          Brother and sister who just arrived last week

                                         Which one will you choose?

 

3rd saxophone lesson

                                          
                                           Music and movement

                                            2nd flute lesson

                         
                                            Which note is which?

                                               Learning a new song

Scotland trip

I have just been home to Scotland for a 10 day visit. The aim of this trip was to spend time with my parents and to relax. I caught up with some of my friends but, unfortunately there was not enough time to see everyone I wanted to, so if I didn’t get to see this time, sorry! However, I did manage very noisy overnight stay in the centre of Glasgow, a visit to Loch Lomond and a day trip to the beautiful island of Arran. Good memories.

                                                          On the Island of Arran

 

Loch Lomond

Music Camps

To finish off our summer camp programme, we had music day camps for the kids who are interested in learning to play band instruments after the summer. I had one on one time with each of the kids  trying out the instruments that they were interested in, to choose the right one for them.

We also had a 2 day music camp for the kids who are still at the orphanage and are currently in the music instrumental programme. Instrumentalists from 2 orphanages played in the band for the first time together.

Girly Camps

In addition to our day camps, I was involved with the girly camps. Again our theme was the Olympics, but we addressed issues that were relevant to the age and stage of the girls’ lives, concentrating on how God wants us to live and make good decisions.

We also had a lot of fun in our teams competing in games and quizzes and individually in dance competitions and making bracelets and other crafts.

Melting ice only using our bodies! Good job it was hot!

Putting a cut up banana back together using drawing pins!

 

"Just dance" competition!