Ok…..are you ready??? My report starts off with this adorable little face leading the parade of pictures from the best Christmas ever… (sorry some are not high quality, but I did my best… I must have been distracted by the cheetah – heehee!)
Thank you notes, written by some of the orphans say…”you are the best thing in our lives”… that means YOU, the Zoe For Kids supporters!!!!
The buses brought them by the hundreds… 250 excited children arrived…..so full of anticipation!!!!
They marched into our rented community hall and seated themselves so orderly as if the party depended on good behavior…I was pretty speechless….
Their faces glowed as the party started!!! THEY had no idea what the day would hold… (but I did)… I was so overcome with that abundance of joy… the very joy that Jesus talks about!
We started with prayer for a blessed day, the kids sang a beautiful song together… a beautiful sound that can only come from Africa!
A local leader welcomed the orphans and gave a big THANK YOU ..to you, to me… to all of us from all different parts of the world coming together to give these precious children a party they will never forget.
Let me tell you, it touched me as she told these children they have mommas and daddies from every part of the world…making them so extra special… and they are just that… so very special!!
After a short talk, a children’s choir sang, a child read a poem, some little one delivered a few jokes……and…. SOMEONE very, very, very special arrived!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
We told the children they must be very, very, quiet because Mr. CHEETAH CLAWS needs quiet. He thinks he needs everyone’s attention….He thinks he is very important 🙂 (of course, remember he is a cat!)
He took his throne…. Rita the handler gave a wonderful presentation as the children were soooo quiet you could hear the distant bird call sounds coming clear from Mozambique!
The children waited in line so very quietly to get their chance to pet our cheetah…you could hear a pin drop, and their eyes stopped blinking… either opened wide in fright or opened wide in disbelief and wonderment….
One by one they came up to pet this amazing stunning cat….they actually tiptoed!
He has been petted by over 100,000 children…..add, 250 more, plus the teachers and church leaders who helped make this day a success!!!!! 😎
When our cheetah heard some noise he stood to attention….
Our special children’s pastor, sister Rona was so amazed that on this day she could finally pet a real live cheetah!!!!! Anyone who knows me, knows how much I LOVE cheetahs. Seeing her pet this beautiful animal thrilled me inside…..I still have the smile on my face.
After everyone got to love on the cheetah….Flames Ministries’ drama team presented a Christmas play, while the leaders got the line of shirts, stuffed toys, cars, Christmas cards, jewelry, hair ribbons, and the pillow case dresses ready to custom fit every child’s dream!!!!!
Then Christmas began…..
First the boys were fitted for their graphic T-shirts…..
Probably these are the first stuffed toys to hug and love that they were ever given. So sweet….some quickly put their treasures in their packs for safe keeping…..
….such innocent preciousness …..
Then….the girls were fitted…. all lined up in a queue….with eyes as big as the moon at all the bright colors spread across three tables!!!
One by one, more than enough for all!!! Every girl, got her size!
Such excitement to see them light up like little Christmas trees.
This is what Christmas is all about — sharing the love of Jesus, restoring hope, giving life and sustenance, finding such joy in something so simple… It was like the wise men bringing gifts from the heart of our King—to the orphaned, abandoned children that He so deeply loves. There is nothing closer and nowhere nearer to the stable than this….
Happy Birthday, Jesus!