My first visit to our Shaping Destiny Home December 20-24th 2010
Day One: Monday 20th 2010
I arrived The Shaping Destiny Home at around 6am bustling with excitement after spending close to two hours from the Bamenda park to our SD home in Batibo, Bengang village. Traveling from the big city Douala to Bamenda was quite interesting. Jackie was the first to meet us and welcome us heartily, the kids were all waiting outside as well. My cousin Sophie accompanied me for my trip and so we were both taken into the devotional hall where the kids sang a Shaping Destiny welcome song with many praises to God for us and all the sponsors….I had tears in my eyes, I thanked the Lord for allowing me to be a part of such a great work.
Our day continued with taking breakfast around 8am with the kids and some time to rest our head. Since it was holiday time, some went to bath while others watched TV. We had a chance to watch a veggie tale DVD which I brought. Our kids being so smart were able to tell me lessons they learnt after the movie.
Later during the day, some of the kids took us to the place where they carry water and it was amazing to see how far they had to go, all done with a smile. The water was fresh and clean for that we were very happy.
Had lunch about 1pm and it was the most amazing food. We all eat with the kids some cabbage groundnut soup with sweet potatoes from the SD farm as well as some coco yams. I must add that the portion sizes were Texas style LOL. Just the smell from the kitchen was amazing…yes the girls were the ones cooking for lunch.
After such a meal my natural reaction was some rest…but our kids had other plans. They were in front of the TV practicing for their dance video shooting that was to take place the next day. I had to get rest and at about 3pm I was fresh to tackling some more fun at home. Jackie spent most of the day in Bamenda buying shoes, and new shirts for all 83 kids which as I could imagine was quite a task. Nevertheless the SD home was bustling with activity, everyone assuming their duties and chores unassisted, it was like watching a well oiled machine work its different parts to form harmony.
The afternoon fun, happened to be dancing, we connected some music outside and I taught some praise dancing, each group of kids taking turns to learn one dance or the other. This activity attracted the neighborhood kids and adults as well. We had fun dancing until the moon showed its beautiful head. It was time to get ready for dinner…..the boys had their turn to cook and some of them told me they were better cooks than the girls…LOL.
We went to carry drinking water with excitement; they all wanted to take their aunty guests up another stream where only drinking water is found. We went up a hill…well….several hills and down a valley until at last we found the spring water…fresh and cold. I was amazed at how clean the water was and I must say thankful.
Once we made it down dinner was ready, the kids had some sweet potatoes and soup, while the staff insisted we eat some chicken which they killed and prepared to welcome us to the SD home. They also got some plums from the plum tree and made for us and as if that was not enough, Kenneth’s mother brought us some pepper soup. We were really treated so wonderfully and we felt right at home.
By 8:30pm we had our evening devotion reading from 2 Kings 23-24 led by Tah Mathias one of the young boys at the SD home. One of the lessons learnt and reiterated was the importance of being excellent in everything you are asked to do because God sees and he rewards all hard work.
With that great word it was time to go to bed and wait for another exciting day when I go to see the new building site. Thank you Lord for a day well spent.
Sheila Etonga
SD Officer