Birthdays!

This girl is our oldest child, she turned 9!

He turned 6

She turned 4

He turned 7

January is usually our quiet month except for the birthday parties!

School starts!

Five children started school this year. For some it was exciting, while for others it was rather overwhelming, we are glad to say that all of them are adjusting well to the school environment and making new friends!

Another Medical emergency

One of our little boys who has hydroencephalitis (which is water on the brain that causes pressure and a stunting of the brain which can eventually lead to death) was rushed to a public hospital on the 01st of January because of a blocked shunt. On the 07th he came back home but, within two days he had to go back to that hospital because the pressure had built up again. There he lay for 2 days without the doctors doing anything. By late Saturday afternoon when we saw that he was lapsing into a coma, we removed him from of that hospital and took him to a private hospital where they replaced the shunt.

At first he seemed to be doing well but had a relapse and started having continuous seizures which the doctors couldn’t stop. We really thought that was the end for our little chap and were considering bringing him home for palliative care – what a difficult decision for the doctors and Lyn to make. However, God amazed us again! On Tuesday he came back home and is doing better although he is still very weak. He isn’t able to speak any more but he is so glad to be back home with his “siblings” and has big smiles for everyone. We are praying that the brain will heal and that he will regain his power of speech and be the bright, happy little boy he was before this incident!

We really thank the LORD for Mama Barbara who spent hours at his side ministering to him and bringing him comfort. Part of Barbara’s ministry is visiting the children that are in hospital, bringing them love and care and keeping an eye on the medical care the children are receiving from the hospital – essential in a Public hospital.

Happy New Year!

Well, every Friday we write about the children which we love doing, but this week we want to write about the ladies who works with the children. The children call them mamas and it is really their mamas, they love these children like their own.
These ladies work for long hours, day or night shift. They work very hard!


Thanks to Seal Beach for collecting money for the staff Christmas hampers.
As you can see on the picture and the video how excited they were to receive the hampers.

The song is from psalm 23: 1-3

The LORD is my shepherd I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness.

Last birthday party for the year!!!

The birthday girl!

Well this was the last birthday party for the year. This little girl turned 5 last week - as you can see on the picture she loves butterflies.


A word of thanks to all our supporters!

Lambano sanctuary would like to say thank you to all our supporters for giving so freely to the children, Lambano wouldn’t be the same without your support. But mostly, thank you for loving our children and giving up time in your busy schedules to come and play with them.


As you all know its Christmas time – a time for holidays and rest. Our next update will be on the 16th of January 2009!

Have a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year!

Answered prayer!!!

Soaking off his cast!!

We’ve been praying that this little boy with a club foot, goes to a loving family that will be able to care for his special needs. His cast has now come off but has to wear a special boots for the next 3 years. We are happy to say that he went to a loving family in Pretoria. This family has already taken 2 of our children so we definitely know that he will be loved and well looked after.


Outings!

Bird park with teacher Winsome and Auntie Keisha

Bird park – Some of the children went to a Bird Park on Tuesday - what fun they had! Thank you very much to Teacher Winsome who organized and took these children on this special outing.

Zoo – On Thursday, Mama Barbara took the McAlpine children out to the Pretoria Zoo! The children loved it and asked lots of questions!

AWANA concert!!!

The concert!

Ice cream time!

Every Friday night the older children attend a youth group, called AWANA, at the local church. Last Friday was the last meeting of the year and the children performed in a concert. It was great to see the children singing and dancing to the songs, quoting scripture and also explaining what the scripture meant. After the concert the children were treated to an ice cream - that was the highlight of the day!

Thank you to all the AWANA teachers for taking the time to teach our children about God.

Our children got their report cards today and all 9 of them did exceedingly well. All have been promoted to the next standard.

Parties, parties!!!

It’s that time of the year when our children get really busy with parties. Yesterday the children were blessed with Christmas gifts. Thanks to Auto Trader – the Operation team, for collecting all those beautiful gifts for the children.

Goodbye!

This little girl is leaving today. She is going to another facility where she will be with her siblings