Update - long overdue

Well here goes, I know I have lots of news but I dont think I will be able to cover it all, you are going to read for days on end if is had to say it all.

Lets start with Isiaiah 54 Children's Sanctuary.

In our care at the moment:  Damon, Donovan, Carmen, Taryn, Nana, Gordon, Cindy, Leon and Isiah.

News on the children:
Damon - is doing very well with his school, he got a lovely report and he now goes into Grade 4.  His dancing is going well, his ballet is going well, and after 3 months of doing tap, he received a gold certificate.

Donovan - not doing to great with his siezures, they have changed his tablets, so hopefully he will be a bit better, he has a MRI Scan on the 28th May and then we will know what damage we are dealing with. He starts school this year, Grade 1, i feel sorry for his teacher.  He is going to the same school as Carmen. Donovan is also now officially adopted by Keith and Myself after 5 years of fighting with home affairs for the changes on his birth certificate.

Wendy - she has left us and is now staying with her aunt in town.  I am pleased to tell every she passed her final year at school.  I don't know what she is going to do with her life from now, any news and I will pass it on.

Carmen - she did not get a great report from school, too much talking irritating others in the class, she goes into grade 2 this year and hopefully she learns to stop talking and concentrate.  Her dancing is going well, she got a silver award for the American Awards and a Silver award for her ballet exam.

Taryn - she is doing well, has gone into Grade R this year as it is big school next year, she is also doing ballet, did a concert at the end of last year and she did very well, they are so cute when they are so little.  But of course we now have a new name for Taryn, it is 24 (4 going on 24).  Gee does she have attitude.

Nana - What can I say, she is looking so good, the operation was a success, and we are encouraging her to walk as much as possible so that she can strengthen her little legs.  We have to take her to Wentworth Hospital this week to have her calipers and shoe support done. But overall she is doing so well.

Leon - has done very well at pre-school.  He is really getting tall now and is really a big boy.  He was very excited to go back to pre-school and had a lovely time at the farm with his family and aunty Zama.

Cindy - she got a lovely report and did very well.  She is really getting tall now and is a real teenager, attitude and all.  Has spent a lovely holiday with her family in Pietermaritzburg and is due home today.

Gordon - He has really grown and is looking so good now, he is taking his first few steps and stands alot on his own.  Winks and smiles all the time and is at last not wanting to be picked up all the time.  I think he likes the idea of walking soon.

Isiah - Well he is doing great.  Have been back to the Genetics Doctor and he has confirmed that he does not have Ricketts or the Inherited bone disease which they thought, had another doctor look at all the tests as confirmation, and they both agreed that they cannot find the reason his little fingers are like they are or why his head is bigger than normal, but that we do not have to worry about as the brain is growing at the propper rate as the head is.  He is walking, running and still laughing.  Even starting to get a bit of an attitude as well.  His adoption has also come through and we now await the final order.

That is the end of the children's news - now for a bit of Isiaiah 54 news. 

We have applied to become a NGO (Non Govermental Organization) or Section 21 Company as it is easier to deal with all the extentions to the organization.

We have opened the Abused Women's House (Catori Waki) and have 1 lady and her baby in at the moment.  We also have a new Supervisor - Maggie - who is a police women as well.  Things are going really well and I am sure that we will have more ladies soon.  We have been given a Jungly Gym for the house as well as a dolls house so things are coming together nicely.

We have also opened the Pregnant Girls House (Tahila Waki), we have one lady with a 10 day old baby who was sent from Umtombo and another lady who is newly pregnant. Still a bit to do at the house but it is livable.  We were given a TV for the house as well as some beds, mirrors, carpets etc. so things are coming right now.

Keith and I are in dire need of a holiday as we had quite a busy year last year as well as a busy Christmas Season.  Hopefully we will get a chance to get away and recharge ourselves in about March.

That is all for now - anything I have forgotten to tell you about will be put into the next update. 

Lots and lots of love to all my volunteers from last year, I miss you all and hope to be able to keep in contact with you are soon.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY