Hurting Hearts. Helping Hands

Friday, August 2, 2013

Aziz's Fishing Trip

Aziz was so excited to get to spend some time fishing with Cody. He, Cody and Calu Putah spent the morning out fishing and did pretty well! We had some yummy sashimi for lunch and food for family night. It was great having Aziz here to show him how we use fishing to bless the locals. All the money made that day went to Calu.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

School Days This Month

It was fun take to Aziz and Oscar along with me to school. It was so familiar for Aziz as he grew up in school saying the same opening prayer to Allah, and certain mannerisms that come with being a Muslim. They both helped me in my class with so many kids. I love that Oscar got to document and photograph so much while he was there. I love having pictures with my Muslim girls, and as you can see; though we are so different in beliefs and culture, we have such a good time together. And I never take for granted every moment that I get to spend with them, loving on them and showing them some light :)

Our kids also get to have good social activity with other kids, and the benefits of having Kavitha also teach them and learning Tamil.

"OUCH" Party

I titled this an "ouch party" because for the reality of what it really is, I could not bring myself to say that in the title. One tradition with Muslim families is that boys are circumcised by the age of 8. At the time that the family is ready for this to occur, they plan a full day event.

Olith is one of our STN surf club boys and his family had invited our family, Andy, and other friends/family to come celebrate. I guess as much as they put into a girl starting her first menstruation and becoming a woman, they also put into a boy being circumcised and becoming a man. When we first arrived, we had lunch with the family. I joined the girls in the back room, and was excited as I felt we were making progress in our talking as my tamil has increased over the last few years. Parties are always a great way to interact with Muslim women, because they stay in their homes most of their life.

After a couple of hours of eating, talking, hanging out, they decorated the front room all nice and put this precious little "tambe" in new clothes on his little throne. Like other birthday parties and such, they did the whole fire sparklers around him, feeding him food, etc. We managed to thank them for lunch and escape before the Muslim man (that rides on his bicycle with all of his doctor utensils) was to arrive and perform the "snippy." This little boy will be kept in a room, basically pinned down for one week to heal and such is their custom. Poor thing :( He was all smiles; but I don't know that he really knew what was coming :( Just another day in A-Bay.

Nadeeka's Dad's Funeral

As I sat on my patio one afternoon, getting ready to leave for a M*sl*im birthday party, the sounds of anguishing cries filled my ears. Moments later someone ran into my yard to tell me that my good friends Nadeeka and Mirey had just found out that their dad had passed away. I ran to their house to comfort them and spent the rest of that week with them, whether loving on them or serving tea and cookies to visitors on and off for the seven days. The day of the actual ceremony and burial was brutal. I could not fight back the tears when I looked at my friend sobbing, only to know the truth in that her dad had never given his life to Papa. You see, Nadeeka began coming to Ladies Tea within the last year and has given her life to Papa. But she is the ONLY one in her family that is not B*d*h*st. This made it very hard on her, with not only the reality of his death, but all of the B*d*h*st ceremonies that they performed at her house. She's a single mom of two teenage kids, and her dad was her best friend. I held her that week and continue to help her walk this path of grief. Please pray for her heart.

In the very center of the crowd, I am holding up Nadeeka as she watches her dad's casket be lowered into the ground

Monday, July 1, 2013

SURFERS GIVING BACK

Taking the kids out for Surf and Swim - instead of surfing waves, we surfed behind the boat. This is Koda and Babu together behind the boat.

Ab and Koda riding in the boat

Thanks to my mom for the kite- all of the kids love taking turns flying it- and Cody's fishing pole idea is perfect!

Koda surfing behind the boat

My turn :)

Babu loves this whole new idea- especially towing into waves :)

And last but not least, the boat driver- Cody's turn

Sunday School practicing hitting Goliath- after just studying the story of David

Cody working hard, helping some of our friends Krishantha and Tim, installing windows

Cody, Aziz and Oscar working at the Surf Club's Surf School, building new surf racks for them. This was a great way that Cody got Aziz and Oscar involved with the local surf club boys.

SURFERS GIVING BACK!

Beach day with Babu's siblings- they don't go to the beach often, so it was fun for them.

Naomi surfing her first time on Babu's back

Cody and Amu catching some waves

Me pushing Rubi into waves. It was her first time to surf and be excited for more! I was stoked!!! She stood up too!!!!

Cody took Oscar, one British guy, and Babu out for a day of fishing. They had a great time fishing and got enough fish to feed everyone for Family Night the next day. We had lots of new visitors at Family Night, so we were able to feed them all.

Happy Birthday Cody!!!

Cody started off his birthday morning with my homemade coconut rotis, dhal curry and coconut symbol for breakfast. He skyped with his parents then enjoyed a late morning surf. We took Cody to lunch at one of our favorite restaurants Hideaway. Our friend Sharon, the owner, gave Cody and Koda brownies for their birthdays.

We got a package on the perfect day!!!! One of our friends- the Elverts, sent us some wonderful goodies, including some of these, and some also from Cody's parents in a package a week before. Made his birthday a little more special with some fun things that we can't get here!