My Tripmates

Leslie, adoptive mom of 2 from India.  Her daughter Nandini was at BSSK with Sunshine.  Organizing the trip.

Faye, fellow blogger, tagging along on our trip.  She will be staying with RoseBud and me at our hotel in Newark and the 3 of us are going to the Statue of Liberty on our layover!  She didn't know any of us before signing up to go.

Cherie, lived in Mexico doing missions for 5 years

Emily, her 13 yo daughter

Scott and daughters Kailee and Katie (18 and 16)

Linda, John and their dd Sam (age 16)

That's our official group, all 12 of us! 

There is also Erin, who is going on her own and staying a whole month, but who will be there at the same time we are.  She actually arrives a day after we do.

And that's all I know about everybody!

Thank you to Charlie and Cynthia for their donation!

Merry Christmas and some Thank You's!

Thank you to

Larry & Rita
Eleanor
Howard & Denise (and Sri)
Jill & Tom

and to Mr. GT who raised $395 by "giving away" his candy!
Thanks to candy donors
Janna
Megan
Me (hey, I didn't even get any!)
and all the very generous people at American Girl

and to Nonny who kicked in an extra $5 to make it an even $400 (because you know that, except for parentheses, there is nothing I like better than for things to be even and symmetrical!)

Luke 2:10-15 (New International Version)

¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
 ¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 ¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest,
      and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

From BibleGateway

Bare Books

One of the projects I want to do with the kids we work with is to make books with them.  I bought these "Bare" books--essentially blank books that we can illustrate and make into books.

I chose board books because I want my kids to make books for the younger kids.  Board books are chunky little books with thick cardboard pages, perfect for toddlers and little kids (they can't rip the pages!)

I'm thinking we'll make color books and my kids can read the books to the younger kids and help them learn colors, English names for colors and signs (sign language, which is what many of the non-verbal kids are learning) for the colors.  This will be as simple as coloring the pages with a marker or drawing pictures of something that color and possibly labeling the page with the name of the color.

What I love about this project is that it will reinforce the learning for the kids making the books by teaching someone else. (even if they know their colors, they can practice on their English by labeling)  Also I love the servant aspect of the project and I think they will be thrilled to do a project which will bless someone else.

I have several projects like that planned.

In addition to the color books, I'd like to make texture books.  I'm brainstorming right now what things would be easy to bring and stick into the books.  I've got velcro (both the fuzzy and the picky sides), sandpaper, felt.  There I'm stumped.  Anyone have any suggestions for some relatively flat, easy to glue in items that have interesting textures?

And the third book I'd like to make with them is some sort of Bible story book where they can "read" the story to the younger kids.

Cost for the Bare Board Books:  $39 for 30 books. (shipping was a very reasonable $3 and they came in about 3 days!  I was very impressed!)

Meet the Kids We'll be Working With: Caleb

I'd like to introduce you to some of the kids we'll be teaching when we go to SCH.  I'll be talking about them while we're there (hopefully!  I hope I can get internet access)  and it will be good for you to have an idea of who they are.

Caleb is 12 years old.  He has cerebral palsy and some speech issues.  He is incredibly determined and a very hard worker!  Caleb is enrolled in private school and though he began in a preK program, (because he had never been given the opportunity in his previous orphanage to get an education) he quickly moved into the first grade.

Here's some more of his story.   Click on the link and watch the video of him saying his alphabet.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to fall in love with this little boy!

Indian Jingle Bells

There are a couple of versions out there on YouTube, but this one has the best picture. It does lose the sound after a minute. Oh well. It's so cute!

More Thanks

Annette & Jack
Doug & Sandy
Phil
Jack & Therese
Len & Emmy
Pam & Harlow
Angela
Mike & Janet

Thank you!  Thank you!  We are so close!  God is going to do this!!

And a very big thank you (and a kiss!) to Mr. GT, who every Christmas makes over 3000 pieces of candy and gives them away, but who this year sent out a little note at work to trade boxes of candy for a $10 donation.  I'll post the results of this effort soon.  That amount is not yet included in today's total.

Only in India!

It's only dye!
Originally uploaded by journeymama

This is little Solo, 1ish son of Rae, who writes my favorite blog in India. She captures India so well and reading her blog lets me feel, a little bit, that I am there.

Go read about what happened to Solo!