Children school fees and supplies

Some of you have given gifts to help the some of the children here go to school.  One of the little boys we have been supporting for the last 3 years is a little deaf boy that prior to our helping him was not able to attend any school. 

As is the case for everywhere the fees have gone up a lot during the past 3 years.  Heriniaina has to travel south 4 hours and live at the school during the school year.  The fees this year have doubled since he started.  The fees are about $250.00 for the school year.  This includes his room, board, school fees, supplies and transportation to and from home 6 times at $15 each time. (one to school first of school year, 2 for Christmas holiday, 2 for Easter break and home at the end of the year). Previously I have paid for his transportation and am willing to continue helping if we can send him this year.  I currently have support of $100.00 for him.  Are you interested in helping with the remaining amount.  If so you can send a gift to World Venture indicate on the memo line #6401-900.

This is a  miscellaneous account used once a year for support for children here in Madagascar.

Currently we have 6 children we help at $100.00 a year for fees and supplies.  For most of them this covers the needs, most of the parents are asked to contribute a little bit towards these fees.  There are 2 that the parents can not afford any amount because they use all they earn to feed the family. 

If you choose to give there are a couple ways to give. 

1.  by check in the mail to 1501 W. Mineral Avenue, Littleton, CO 80120-5612  
2.  by e-mail at www.worldventure. go to donate you need to go to a secure mission and enter 6401-900
3. by phone you can call 720-283-2000 and tell them you would like to donate to 6401-900.

Although credit card are easy and convenient please be aware there is a 3% fee deducted from the gift.
Other than credit card there is no fee taken from these gifts.  100% goes to the children.

I pray you can make a gift for Heriniaina or give for another child.

Last few months

As you all know I was in the states from May 8, 2013 to August 1st.  My mother went to be with the lord 2 days after I arrived there.  I thank God for being able to be there with my dad and brothers and sisters during this tough time for us all. 

I spent the rest of the time there 6 weeks with my Dad and family.  I lift my Dad in prayer.  He is very lost without the love of his life.  My mom was sick and in a nursing home for the last 5 years.  My dad went and had dinner with her and held her hand until she went to sleep every night except 2     nights when he was in the hospital.  I pray for a friend for my dad someone he can do things with like going to rummage sales and golfing.

I went to AZ for 3 weeks and had time to visit my friends and church. Kristen always has a room open and ready for me.  Bob is always fun to spend time with.  I am so blessed with the friends and family I have all over the world.

Savannah, Braydon,Me,Dotti,Kristy

Me and Gabbie

my friend Bob

Jeremy

Our newest Jason

Anne-Marie and me

Jeannie, Bradley, Jerry

the end of my time in the states I spent time with my friend Anne-Marie. We visited places I have never been. So much fun.

I returned to Madagascar on August 1st.  On August 9th while out walking trying to move a little more, my buddy and companion Bandit was run over by a car and died.  I grieve for him I still miss him especially at night because he slept under the bed or right beside the bed.  When I get up he was always there right beside me.

Yesterday I received notice my uncle had passed away.  He had a stroke on Saturday and didn't make it.

I pray God will move me into a new season past these deaths.  I know He will not give me more than I can handle, but I think I am at my limit.  Asking for you prayers.

My Bandit

AOL account closed

I am having problems with my AOL account so please do not open any suspicious e-mails from that account.  My new e-mail is Sandra.horen@gmail.com   Please use this in the future to contact me.

The long overdue post

As I lay in bed this morning I started dreaming about what I should say in my post.  I guess this can only mean I better get to it.  I can’t remember the post I had all worked out in my dream, but I will do my best to give you an update.

This past year has been a very good year for me spiritually and emotionally.  I really feel God is using me where he has planted me.  6 years ago this month I retired from the position of probation officer.  It really seems like a lifetime.  I was so blessed during the next few months with the sale of my house, the sale of all my things (except the few things I packed to ship to Madagascar) and preparation for the journey.  Well, as you all know there have been many ups and downs over the last 6 years, but this last year has been mostly ups. 

In January 2012 I started a 2^nd English club at my house.  The previous group moved to intermediate and the new group was beginners.  At the end of 2012 these 2 groups had moved to the next level.  The now advanced group is getting smaller, but that is a good thing because several have secured jobs using their English language skills.  Of this group 5 started attending church with me.  They are now hearing the word of God on a regular basis.  The now intermediate group is doing a lot better.  We are now working on pronunciation.  This is hard since they have never made some of the sounds used in the English language.  We have fun by making them try to stick their tongue outside their teeth for the sound of th as in three.  We laugh at the way they say “third” sounds like turd. 

Starting this January I began another club.  This is now the beginner club and the class is so big I had to put a limit on the number of participants.  No more than 25 students are allowed.  I prepared a grammar English book and am using it with this group.  Some of the advanced group members are taking turns helping with the beginners club.  They enjoy helping and can explain things in Malagasy when I get stuck.  We try the “only English rule” but sometimes I don’t know how to draw a picture or make a gesture for some words.  I really enjoy their help.  The members of the advanced group have become more like friends now. 

The next thing that started last year was helping with children’s ministry at my church.  I am working with the 3 to 6 year old children.  It really reminds me of when I helped with AWANA cubbies at Craycroft Baptist Church.  I love the kids this age.  They are so egger to learn about Christ.   Now we are doing the Armor of God.  This is really a fun lesson.  Since supplies are limited here I have to use my imagination to come up with crafts for the kids to make.  Tracy Marcantonio has sent me some supplies that we can’t get here like glitter, wiggly eyes crayons, markers scissors ect.  Thanks Tracy. 

Next about my work in the office.  There are three of us working in the office.  It is located in my house so I am never late.  Things have been going smoothly over the past year.  In January 2013 we changed our accounting program from Excel to Quick Books.  This has been (and continues to be) a learning curve.  To top it off a week ago my computer crashed and I had to reformat it.  I needed to re-install all the old programs.  I lost my copy of Microsoft word and had to get a new copy.  I tried to re-install quick books and got an error message each time.  I spent several days trying to get it to install.  After 3 tries with skype calls to intuit, the help desk was able to get it to install.  The last time I was on the phone (skype) with them from 4pm until 2am.  (They are only open 6am to 6pm PST) . So finally success and I am back up and working on the new program.  Praise God I save all my work on a flash drive and only lost some pictures.  Not a lot though because many are saved on facebook. 

While in the states last year I shared about some of the children in my neighborhood in need of help.  Through donations 8 children were helped to go to school.  I want to thank all of you that helped. 

Personally this last year was fairly normal.  I went back to the states during September and October.  I visited with my parents in September and was in AZ during the month of October.  The visit with my Dad was nice.  His health is not the best and he is very lonesome in the house by himself.  He visits my Mom every day.  She doesn’t know me, but still knows my dad.  There are ups and downs with my mom, but overall the main problem is the Alzheimer’s.  My dad however has trouble with his back and legs which limits his activity.  His hearing is getting worse and it makes it hard to talk to him over the phone. 

My time is Arizona was nice.  However the return trip was anything but calm.  I was scheduled to leave AZ on Sunday; however my flight was canceled due to hurricane Sandy.  I finally reached NY on Thursday night (Friday morning about 2am) and my flight back to Madagascar was scheduled for Friday afternoon.  And, as fate would have it my luggage didn’t arrive with me.  I guess it stayed in San Francisco.  It did arrive about noon on Friday.  I met up with Tracy and my luggage about 2pm to prepare for our trip to Madagascar.  After that everything went smooth.  Tracy came for a month to see what God was speaking to her about.  She now really feels God is leading her into missions full time.  She can tell you more about that herself.  We had a great month and she got to see a little glimpse of live here in Madagascar.

After that the rest of the year flew by.  In January some of my club members gave me new years gifts.  Here in Madagascar it is customary to give gifts for new years, not Christmas.  Thinking about this makes me feel good.  I like the idea of Christmas being about Christ and not what gifts you get.  Oh what a lesson to learn. 

I will close for now.  Thanking each of you for the prayers and support you give me on a regular basis.  I could not do it without you. 

With all my Love

Blessings

Sandi Horen