The New Club From Start To Finish

It's amazing how God continually uses us in ways that he's gifted us in. Cody was asked by the surf club president and good friend Krishantha, to design and build a surf club using two catamaran boats. Cody has worked hard, endless hours to create a beautiful club for the boys, that not only will promote their club but also help them to have income during the tourist season. They will rent out surfboards from the club and also be available to give surf lessons. The club they had before was taken away from them, thus forcing them/us to come up with a new plan. This was a great idea that the boys brainstormed on. The only way to have something on the beach is if its a boat; this was ever since the government came in and took the land from the people last year. That's where the club on a boat came in. Cody had the help of many of the club boys and also good friend Niklas (before returning to America with his wife Brenna and their soon to be born baby girl).  The hard work over the month paid off and they now have a beautiful club. Not only that, the relationship that has grown between Cody and each of the club boys is amazing after spending so many hours together. They love Cody and appreciate him so much. They come over more often and go fishing with Cody all the time now. We had a huge wind storm that knocked our fence down 3 days before my birthday. Cody tried finding someone to hire to fix it, but couldn't find anyone. All of the club boys showed up and helped Cody do it themselves. It was so rad to see them giving back to their friend. They have even invited Cody this week to go with them on their annual trip to Okanda, where they go to the Bdhist temple to offer up a sacrifice to ask their "god" for a good fishing season. Cody was blessed that they asked him to go with him. They know where Cody stands on his faith, and we just pray that doors continue to open up in that relationship. 

Day 1 - Connecting the Catamarans and beginning the floor level 

 Chootie Milan learning to work the saw

Local Putah (Siril) working with the grinder 

Most of the Club boys on Day 1 

 Building UP

Here comes the roof 

 Krishantha and Local Putah getting the leaves ready for the cajan roof

Finished Product, including stairs and surf racks

Paddle Out Prayer and Remembrance

An Australian man died this month surfing at Okanda, a surf spot not too far from A-Bay. The club boys and our STN crew together paddled out and joined in a circle to pray for the family of the man that died. Flowers were thrown in the middle and the waters splashed in the air in remembrance of him.

Taking HDC Team on Safari

A Spearfishing Adventure

Cody was able to take Chris Rehrer and Pastor Scott Thibido out on a spearfishing adventure with some other local boys. They had a successful one as usual. 

Cody and George cooked up some yummy fish and chips with lobster on the side for dinner. Delish!

Teaching at the Muslim School

This is my friend Kavitha. She is the head teacher at this Muslim preschool. I have enjoyed deepening a friendship with her and I teach with her once a week. Its good for my kids to have the interaction with other kids also. I took HDC team girls to help me teach. It was a tremendous help, as we have around 100 kids and its hard to teach all of them. I had them all split up and do songs and random English teaching. 

Stephanie, Mom, and Jasmine teaching their kids

My room of cutie patooties

Singing songs

Maddison and Janie teaching the crocodile song

Stephanie teaching her class

Mom using visual aid to work on colors 

Happy Birthday Mom Sri Lankan Style!

The Surf Club boys came over to offer their help in preparation for the party. Krishantha, club president, hung all the balloons

Some of the other boys, Local, Calu, Rosantha, Babu and Atta helped make candy bags for the kids

Then all the boys played a volleyball game after they finished

Chootie Putah decorated my white board for her birthday

We did the normal water balloon toss for the kids

I took all the HDC girls to get salwa's (the local attire) to wear at the party

They looked lovely, and I tried convincing Scott and George to wear lungi's with their collared shirts ;)

Everyone was so excited to bless my mom on her birthday

Cody decorated her massive cake, and not a piece was left. We had my mom do Sri Lankan system also: First she slices the cake and feeds her closest relative, being me. The Cody and the kids. Then she gets a bite. Its like the wedding cake, but in Sri Lanka, its every birthday party! 

The boys loved my mom and everyone called her "Ama" (mom)

The girls also love her and Inoka and Rubi were even dancing, which they don't usually dance very much. They said they wanted to make mom happy :)

Surf Club boys enjoying the party