Finally!

Hi Everyone!
It has been a long while since I have written much from this corner of the world. We have been so thankful for all the visitors we have had in the last two months. We enjoyed a very relaxing and encouraging time with Wilf and Laura, then just after the new year we enjoyed Bob Parker, Robert and Melissa Orr, Joyce Taylor , Mike Parker and Uncle John McMillan, as well as Harmony who met up with them at Singapore. She is still with us until Feb. 8. It will not be easy to say goodbye to her and Autumn is already fussing about that!!
After Wilf and Laura left us we spent the time preparing for the team from Canada and the Retreat that was planned for the time they were here. Because the upstairs was close to being ready for them to use we worked hard to get elelctricity up there, to clean (workmen here leave a real mess, especially the cement guy!), and to get beds, blankets, pillows etc ready for the 7 of them. Altho it wasn't 5 star, we think they were reasonably comfortable and we enjoyed having them able to share our home. The steps up to our house, were an interesting feat for all of them. Ray declares that he does not think he will ever get used to them!! The Retreat was planned for any in NorthEast India who could come. We were disappointed that not many came but we still enjoyed it a lot. Tuanzachin, from Imphal, along with his wife came and I was especially delighted to see him after 35 years, and to meet his lovely wife who has met five of my children and who each of them have really enjoyed. He has not changed and we really enjoyed his fellowship through the week. They traveled by jeep here and it took two days. During the time Bob and team were here they also taught at a VBS for our community. Ray advertised by delivering invitations and we were pleased to have over 60 children come for classes every day. Also that week John offered a teachers workshop for our teachers here at Silver Oak. I think this was very useful and John did a great job of relating to the teachers. We all received a certificate at the end of the three days. It was a very busy time for us here but we were thankful for the time they were here. They left a couple of times and came back due to flight changes, however they did arrive finally in Manipur and we hear they have had a wonderful time there with much encouragement to our brothers and sisiters there.
The day they left we began the first session of the school year. It was a little hectic at the beginning for Ray especially with getting the teachers and timetable and everything set up. We were under the idea that school was beginning on Monday however, this is India and we are still getting students and we got a new teacher yesterday and slowly it is getting into a routine. Ray and I are teaching Bible and English classes. Ray does administrative work as well. I only teach Mon-Thurs and have two classes each day. So far that has been going quite well. The children seem to enjoy the crafts, coloring, and visuals that I have been using. Education here is quite different than we are used to in Canada and can be quite frustrating. Autumn and Andrew seem to be doing well. We are in somewhat of a routine now with Ray heading down the hill at 8:00AM along with Autumn and Andrew who begin at 8:30. School goes until 4:00PM. Harmony has been a great help to the school and has taught classes in English, Music, sports and has done a great job of getting to know the teens and all the students in the few weeks she has been here. Last week on Republic Day she organized a day of games for the students. The students were divided into teams and then went to different stations such as the obstacle course, relays, sponge toss, egg toss, and cheer and poster making. Watching them at the final egg toss and the tug-o-war, I delcared it a success!! She also has taken piles of pictures and is in the process of organizing a Picture Wall for the hallway at the school. On Friday night all of the girls were invited to a Princess Diaries pyjama party and the whole dorm watched the movie and ate lots of junk food. The girls loved it, as did the wardens (dorm mothers) to the point of allowing a second movie!! I think the boys were a little disapopointed not to be invited. We will miss her ideas and especially her energy!!
The weather is getting warmer here, that is likely around 20 during the day. It is very nice. It is also getting very dry and the water shortage is becoming somewhat of a problem. Many people here in our community do not have access to good water. They have to fill containers at wherever they can find some coming from the mountain. We are fortunate here to be able to buy water and fill our tanks. there is a water tap just down the road from us and we see many little carts going down the hill with water jugs in them. They ride the little carts down the hill and have to push it up!! The Canadians all like to take pictures of them! The people here are hoping for rain to come early this year.
While Harmony has been here she has organized some extra school work for Autumn and Andrew especially in the area of writing. So if you are interested they will be adding little blogs to our Heartwarmers blog. They also are doing some computer fun stuff like doing reports, and some math games. Andrew is doing a report on Cheetahs and has really enjoyed that. I wonder if Ray and I will be able to keep up to it but we do plan to try!!
This is becoming way too long so will close for this week. I will take this opportunity to thank each of you who sent gifts with Wilf and Laura and with Bob. WE could not feel more loved!! Everyday as we use the things that have been given we think of you and are so thankful. Love and Blessings, Ellen