Getting Ready for Christmas

Having delayed as long as possible we finally started on the things children like to do preparing for Christmas. The crib figures were revamped, being the wooden peg figures from a good few years ago.

Swathi told the Primary children the Christmas story in Telugu and we talked about it in English. The older children had decided with Swathi what they would like in the way of decorations this year.


The boys were made responsible for the star to go on the roof and for the lighting of the crib area and the making of a Christmas tree with lights. Sampath, Govind and Giri are the most electrically aware in that they can connect wires to a plug. They are always most careful to turn the electricity supply on and off as necessary.

Sampath estimated the amount of wire needed for the star which was attached to the volleyball post with a piece of cook Kalyani-mamma's firewood.


He went to buy the bits and pieces and an extension lead - called a plug box here.


I had bought the hooks for the tree earlier and showed Sampath how to drill a few of the holes for the rawplugs.



We thought we had four sets of lights but once tested and carefully strung up the crib lights refused to work so tonight one of the boys will go and buy some more.

Govind

The girls are responsible for decorating their rooms. The Christmas tree lights would look better at night if there were more green ones at the top so they will be searched for too. One day Prem Nivas may have its own artificial Christmas tree  but meanwhile it is the children's own work.

The High School exams are from the 15th to the 22nd so dance practise is after homework time!I have started supervising homework time and have the opportunity to read my Kindle!

At lunchtime the little children watched Little Donkey and the 12 day of Christmas on my laptop and some of the children remembered bits of them from last year. They have made cards for Monkston school Year 1 class in Milton Keynes, to keep up the tradition started a few years ago.


 Last year the Monkston children had made origami Father Christmases for our children and this year we have strung them up on the Christmas tree.

Back row Prem, Raju. Rajesh, Madhavi
front row Prasanna, Prabhas, Lavanya

The children are all practising dances for the evening concert at the Christmas party at Shanti Nivas. The gyrating  dances are done to hymn tunes to keep the occasion Christian. 

The Youngest and Newest Primary Children

Visitors from the UK, who are The Leprosy Mission supporters, came to see Prem Nivas last week. They had a a busy schedule visiting leprosy colonies but found time to visit our home for HIV infected children at Prem Nivas.
Swathi, our housemother, and Gowri did a dance for them and the newest and youngest Primary School children enjoyed entertaining them with 'Five Little Monkeys'.

The newest monkeys, Lavanya, Jagan, Prabhas and Rajesh 

December 7th brought another birthday celebration and the children were given bananas and a packet of biscuits.

December 8th brought another special donated breakfast for all the children. It was to celebrate little Rory's birthday. he helped his uncles to distribute the food to the children as is the custom.

The children enjoyed a huge breakfast of puris, warrahs, idlis and two chutneys. this was followed by a sweet vermicilli dish.