As Canadians we are not all that involved in the celebrations surrounding Carnival. Certainly it makes the news but is usually seen as some festivity which is from other cultures. Well, we find ourselves again is just such a culture! So, in keeping with the proximity of Valentine’s Day and Carnival, the Primary School hosted a party which was attended by lots of costumed little folk. Some of the pictures give a hint of the fun that was had by all - except perhaps the principal who was dragged into dancing on stage with some of the little children! I do not like the spotlight at the best of times and particularly when it involves something like dancing about which I know so little!
Here I am with Rev. Jim Roussos, a member of the Council of the Academy.
I had planned on a staff luncheon for last Friday as a way to encourage the staff and to have a little fun together in the period of the year when things get a little slow because of the weather and the challenge of children who have started to have enough of school. So we met at a local Italian restaurant for a buffet lunch which I think all enjoyed.
One of the staff, George, our Bible teacher mentioned in passing a while ago, that he had never had a tie. So this became the reason for a special gift of a tie to George. I was later told that he did not even wear one to his wedding! After, he came to me and said, “Now sir, you need to get me a shirt that I can wear the tie with!” Perhaps at another function.
I had also purchased a couple of flash drives of memory sticks at a good price and was able to give both of them to people who really were glad to receive them.
This morning we managed to attend the Filipino Church here in Lefkosia. The pastor’s two daughters are attending the Academy and are good students. Recently the church which supports his mission efforts drastically cut back on his salary and so he came to the school thinking he would have to take the girls out of school in the middle of the year since he could no longer pay the fees. The Board graciously said to keep them in school and pay on the tuition as he was able. This is the kind of support I would love to give when such efforts as this ministry are threatened with undermining due to lack of funds. Lord, provide!
In our meeting he asked if I would come and speak and I said I would be happy to do so but would not want to do it the first time I attended. So Marian and I were there this morning and what a marvelous service! Almost completely made up of women - perhaps only 4 men there - due to the fact that these ladies are here to earn money as house keepers earning about $375 CDN per month most of which is wired back to the Philippines each month to support family there.
The church tries to give the ladies (25 - 45 years of age) a busy Sunday to keep them away from the temptations which are so prevalent for ‘single’ women here in Cyprus, even though many are married and have family in the Philippines. The service was a wonderful outpouring of praise and thankfulness for the faithfulness of God. There was some modest tambourine dancing at the front as you can see in the picture and then pastor Marcello preached admitting his nervousness of speaking in my presence!
After, there was lunch for all and then today they were off to the mountains to have some experience in the snow which has fallen on the Troodos in the last few weeks. Thankfully the snow will be captured in reservoirs when it melts in a few weeks so that the shortage of water is alleviated in God’s faithfulness. He is so good!
Well, that does it for this week and hopefully the cough will be gone before the next week is and then I will recover some of my strength and joie de vivre! It's been a long month!
Blessings to all!
David
posted by David & Marian Sloss @ 7:25 AM
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