Dear friends,

Our Christmas Party at the Children’s Home was a big success – we organized a little Nativity play together with the children.

Joseph and Mary, holding a black doll in their arms, sat in the shade under a tree. Annah, with her shrill voice, played the Angel Gabriel, who brought “the good news of great joy”: Jesus’ birth. The little girls were dressed up as angels and the boys as shepherds and sheep.

Kenidy, for example, holding a lot of dolls in her arms, played the Guardian Angel of all the children of the world and asked Angel Gabriel to go and see the Christ Child. Katherina, Ruta and Carol, holding a lot of stuffed animals, acted the Guardian Angels of all animals and sought out the Holy Family.

Our younger girls, also dressed up as Angels, brought toys.

The lion and the leopard (Joe and Dodo) wished to meet the Creator.

Then the shepherds with their sheep arrived to greet the Saviour.

In no case could the Three Wise Men be missing. Tentu, Sabo and China, excited about their long, colourful cloaks and the crowns on their heads, brought gifts to the Christ Child. Annah (Angel Gabriel), proud and excited, showed them the way.

At the end of the play the children knelt down before the Holy Family and sang.

No doubt this was a new, wonderful, positive experience for the children. They still talk about it and play their part in English day after day. Kids never get tired of some things, indeed. They wish they could wear their costumes for playing, but, after sewing so much (35 costumes), I do not want to see the costumes any more till next Christmas.

The Christmas lunch, which Maryna and our cook prepared for about 75 people (children, staff and guests), was simple but delicious.

The Christmas tree on our porch looked very “kitsch” and the candles on the table melted in the hot December sun. Anyway, who cares about it? What counts is that the children were very happy and enjoyed the day.

The kids looked forward to receiving their gifts, of course, and, their eyes glistening with joy, held them tight in their arms. The Day-Care children brought their gifts and bags of sweets home without opening them, while I had to unwrap the presents of the resident children. What a joy! I was very moved indeed.

There is a big difference between the behaviour of European children and African kids. When you do have nothing, receiving something must be really beautiful.

Love,

Cecilia