March calendar

Sunday Lunch Scheme

For those students who are a long way from the normalcy of home and family, our Sunday Lunch Scheme is greatly appreciated  ...

"My sister and myself are really grateful for the lunch we had yesterday. We had a marvelous time with Martha, Alfie and little Matilda. Thank you so much for organising this special time."  Kevish (Mauritius)

"Dear Denise & Michael, thank you so much for the wonderful visit to your home, I had a great time with you. Thank you Denise for the lovely apple crumble and custard and the other food you made for us. Peter the game was great fun; though I could not win!! I look forward to welcoming you to Tanzania for a tour of the national park."   Lembris  

Several other students came to my home and we had a mini-belated-Birthday celebration. We had a lovely afternoon playing crazy games and watching one of my favourite films  ...  The Princess Bride

I received some lovely gifts - so thank you to everyone; but Sonali, I love my fab new hat to add to my collection.

... and Arshad I really like this plaque :-) 

Valentine's Night

Our Valentine's celebration was slightly delayed due to Chinese New Year and our Pancake Party but here we are finally celebrating all things related to LOVE. 

Thanks Saju, for coming along and showing our students what a typical traditional Christian wedding might look like.  Thanks too to all the students who took part in our wedding role-play; especially Areti (Lucy) and Arshad (Neil). Please don't worry  ... please re-assure your parents  ...  you are NOT officially married!!!!!

Before we got to the actual 'wedding ceremony', Saju explained what he would do to help a couple prepare for their future life together  ...  I'm concerned that Neil is looking slightly disinterested here!!!

 

Even for me it was interesting to learn more about the different aspects of the ceremony  ...  the vows and the promises made to each other and in the eyes of God.

Lesley read a passage from the Bible, often used within the ceremony. It reads ...

Our wedding ceremony was followed by group discussions about love, relationships and dating in different cultures. Here are some of the things I discovered ...

• Two-thirds of the students do not believe in love at first sight
• The vast majority thought that 25-30 was the ideal age to get married
• There was an even split when asked 'If your parents did not approve of your choice of marriage partner would that affect whether or not you married that person'
• I'm pleased that 80% felt that marriage was for life
• 50% felt it was acceptable for a woman to propose to a man
• Only a quarter would consider internet dating.

I liked Haris' advice in our group ... "Don't marry the girl you can live with; marry the girl you cannot live without."

Our discussion got interrupted slightly by someone having a birthday  ...  oh yeah, that was me :-)

Thank you for the scrumptious cake and lovely card.

On a personal note ...

Pancake Party

Food seems to feature a LOT in our student 

activities :-)  And as we enter the Christian 

time of Lent (the 40 days leading up to Easter)

we were learning why we have this

tradition of eating pancakes on

Shrove Tuesday.

There are lots of people to thank for

coming early and helping with all

the cooking and preparation.

Not least of these is my

faithful friend Pauline.

THANK YOU!!!