Christmas in AFRICA

The children were up at 8am and were instructed to stay in their room till we called them. Rehema's mama and brother, Juma, stayed over to take part in the christmas festivities. When they came into the room~the excitement again~WOW! A stocking under a beautiful decorated christmas tree with each and everyones name on it, full to brim! The all sat patiently waiting~first they all got new pajamas. Actually their very first pair of pajamas~they sleep in their clothes. They all had to put on their pajamas before we could open the stockings and presents. The pajamas are on "1, 2, 3 open your stockings." The smiles, the screams, the jumping~went on forever~it was their first real christmas! Oh yes, and their were tears from Mama Jody and Mama Linda. The screams that came from the big girls when they got lipstick and bras~were priceless! The ipods~OMG~we got ipods. In Rehema's stocking, a Motorola Defy from Oprah~now that was a kodak moment~I am sure you heard the scream in cananda! The last big christmas surprise was for Salma from Mama Jody. She had a letter that we asked her to read in front of everyone. As we were geting everyone to sit and be quiet, Salma started reading the letter to herself~the tears started flowing and she had a hard time reading the letter. The letter said that Mama Jody and her family were going to pay for her to go to a private secondary school! Salma cried~her sister Saumu put both hands over her face and started crying~Rehema & her Mama and ME and Mama Jody, of course all cried HAPPY tears for Salma. This is a huge privelage. Salma was only going to a government school, which are free because they are not good. A secondary school is usually out of the question because of the cost. Salma will move to the school, she will have a dorm, and visit the others at Karim once a month! It is the BEST school she could possible go to~THANKS Mama Jody and family.
Its going to be a GREAT day at Karim today~its CHRISTMAS in AFRICA!!

Love Mama Linda :)