iKhaya LikaBaba Newsletter March 2016 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” 

Happy Easter 

After the Easter Church Service at Solid Ground Church on Sunday the kids returned home to find easter eggs hidden in the garden. The excitement in the air was tangible as they happily scurried about searching high and low for an abundance of chocolate! 

Boys will be boys! 

Our boys were treated to an outing to the Annual Felixton College Rugby Festival where they had a blast learning about boys sport in big school. Thanks to Bronwyn Mathias for organizing this and Wendy Oxley for joining in the fun. You ladies are a blessing and delight to us. 

Birthday Celebration Time! 

Thanks to the Zululand BWA and sponsor, ABI, for going all out to make Asanda, Sanele and Sphelele feel extra special as we celebrated their birthdays together. Asanda turned 7 years on 14 March, Sanele 4 years and Sphelele 6 years on 11 March. Happy birthday to you three! 

Fun and Sunshine with German Visitors 

Sarah Hinze, a German Volunteer, who has been at iKhaya since September 2015 was joined by her mother and two sisters. They came to see where she is staying and experience a taste of her life with us at iKhaya and that of the kids. They took the kids to the beach, much to their joy, for some fun in the sun! 

Empangeni Christian School Gala 

ECS held their gala at the Empangeni Municipal Pool on 17 March. We have 6 kids attending the school and who took part in the festivities and races. What a fun filled morning for the participants and for the younger iKhaya “siblings” who went along to watch and support their mates. 

Fun at Home 

Here’s pictures of some of the activities and goings-on, from our day to day lives here at home. There is certainly never a dull moment to be had! 

We are expanding….Why Not? 

There is a great need to reach and help the countless vulnerable children in our country. Our heart’s desire is to touch and change as many childrens’ lives as we possibly can. And so we have decided to build another home at iKhaya LikaBaba. Why Not Africa? have come on board to build the new home and we are extremely excited to have their support. They are starting with the preparations on Saturday 9th April by clearing the ground and removing any trees that are in the way. 

Why Not Africa? is a NPO volunteer organization, founded in 2004, based in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa committed to changing lives. 

The Why Not Mission: 

While an important focus so far has been providing shelter and facilities such as building orphanages, churches and community centers this is not the only areas where help is needed. 

Our hearts Our hearts desire is to also build life and practical skills, relationships, spiritual strength and ultimately hope in the communities and individuals we work with. Most of our support and activities are aimed at supporting and assisting other partner organizations with similar visions.. We're also a great bunch of volunteers (not limited to age or gender) who give of our skills, time, energy, and resources to build into the lives of others. We love to have fun,there's never a dull moment in between all the back breaking work! We have a heart to serve and ultimately build hope in the lives of those who need it most all for the glory of Gody centers this is not the only areas where help is needed. Our hearts desire is to also build life and practical skills, relationships, spiritual strength and ultimately hope in the communities and individuals we work with. Most of our support and activities are aimed at supporting and assisting other partner organizations with similar visions.. We're also a great bunch of volunteers (not limited to age or gender) who give of our skills, time, energy, and resources to build into the lives of others. We love to have fun,there's never a dull moment in between all the back breaking work! We have a heart to serve and ultimately build hope in the lives of those who need it most all for the glory of God. Desire is to also build life and practical skills, relationships, spiritual strength and ultimately hope in the communities and individuals we work with. Most of our support and activities are aimed at supporting and assisting other partner organisations with similar visions. We’re also a great bunch of volunteers (not limited to age or gender) who give of our skills, time, energy, and resources to build into the lives of 

others. We love to have fun, there’s never a dull moment in between all the back breaking work! We have a heart to serve and ultimately build hope in the lives of those who need it most all for the glory of God. 

On behalf of the children at iKhaya I say thank you for the part you all play in their daily lives. Everyone of you has an impact on the children and for that we are grateful! 

To see our current needs list or where you can be of help to us, should you be inspired to do so, please visit our website at http://www.ikhayalikababa.co.za/get-involved/donate. 

Thank you to those who have already liked our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ikhayalikababa/. If you have not yet done so, please feel free to visit, like and share our page with your family and friends. 

Greetings and love 

Loressa, staff and kids 

Psalm 127: 3-5 "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”

Happy Birthday Jabu!

Jabu celebrated her 9th birthday this month. She growing up into a fine young lady who works hard and with dedication at school and has a passion for reading! Happy birthday Jabs! We love you and are so proud of you! Thanks to the Zululand BWA and sponsors once again for making the day special and one to be remembered.

Fun, Sun, Sand and Sea

Plenty fun was had by the kids at Richards Bay beach with volunteers, Pauline, Sarah and Thabiso, and caregivers, Thembi and Ntombi. Thanks for making life amazing and eventful for the kids.

International Visitors

Pauline Joppich is volunteering at iKhaya for 11 months. She is a young German lady with a heart for kids. Her parents, Christian and Heike, visited this month and spent some quality time with the children. Christiaan and Heike treated the kids to face paints and their artistic flares turned our kids into attractive wild life animals! Helga Budal and her folks, Tormod and Jenny, are from Norway. They have a long history of volunteering at and contact with iKhaya. They came to visit us again- much to the delight of the caregivers and kids! We are blessed to be situated on farm land; so enjoying a countryside walk is always a great outdoor activity and to do this with visitors is always more exciting than usual!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for icecream! What a treat! Icecream makes for a delicious and messy outing!

Homework Centre
Our school children do homework together under the supervision of our house mother, volunteers and caregivers on a daily basis. Marg Helfrich is a huge help to us as she attends to the school kids reading with them every Monday and Wednesday. The kids love her as a granny figure too! Thanks Marg for your love and dedication!

School Readiness
We have 3 kids who will be ready for Grade R in 2017. Our German Volunteers spend one on one time with them to get them ready for school. Cutting, writing, speech and computers are all areas they cover to give them a good start to formal schooling.

Sarah and Pauline take the kids swimming regularly to get the small kids used to water and its big splashes and over the fear of water. The older kids are building in confidence and the practice is improving their swimming skills. While out the kids are being exposed to domestic pets and are loving interacting with them. Some of the younger kids are still fearful but we know that in time they will also play with the animals with much elation. Our lives are made fuller and richer by the involvement and contributions by many local and international folk and businesses who give of themselves, either in time, gifts or financially, towards our home. We are forever grateful that you see and hear the needs of the most vulnerable kids of our nation and are sowing into their lives. On behalf of the children in our care I would like to say thank you for the part you play in making their lives brighter and better, filled with love and happiness and opportunities for great education and health care. To see our needs list and where you can be of help to us, should you be inspired to do so, please visit our website at http://www.ikhayalikababa.co.za/get-involved/donate. Thank you all who have liked our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ikhayalikababa/. If you have not yet done so and are interested in receiving regular newsfeeds and being updated with our most pressing needs, please like our Facebook page too. Please feel free to share our pages with your friends. With love Loressa and the iKhaya team

Isaiah 1: 17 "Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” 

And the fun continues… 

The long December/ January school holiday was filled with fun activities to keep the kids active and out of mischief. Pictures speak volumes so I have not held back while sharing some of the fun they enjoyed in January. 

Colourful Play… 

Volunteers, Pauline and Sarah, organised some coloured powder and the kids had a blast playing with and throwing the powder and getting colourful together. 

Arts and Culture… 

Our older kids enjoyed a visit to the local Empangeni Museum and Town Library. 

The girls enjoyed an evening of girl-time. They had a sleepover at the volunteer’s home and enjoyed pizza, pampering, glitz and glamour and loads of giggles! 

Cooking…

Making pancakes for snack time. Good life lessons in the kitchen to grow our kids into awesome homemakers!

Sleepover Party… 

Back to School 

We have 9 kids attending local Empangeni schools this year. The eldest 2 are in grade 4 and the youngest 3 are in Grade R. We are totally blessed and humbled as we thank our sponsors for their contributions which cover the cost of educating our young learners. We give God the glory as He has stirred your hearts to make this possible. We serve a mighty King and He loves and cares for His children. 

R & B Ranch 

Thank you Robyn and Brett, of R & B Ranch, for allowing us to visit your farm for some fresh air and the great opportunity for our younger kids to enjoy and interact with animals. Our kids love outings and the farm is no exception! They stretched their legs on a walk and exercised their muscles while climbing the jungle gym and pulling one another around in the little red wagons. They enjoyed a picnic before returning home exhausted and bubbling over with joy! 

From all of us at iKhaya, Mancom, staff and kids, we want to say thank you to each and every person and company for your ongoing love, support and involvement in our lives. The saying that many hands make light work goes without saying here at iKhaya. Every one of you who gives financially, prayerfully, of your valuable time, sponsorships and donations is appreciated by us. Your generosity spills over to bless our kids’ lives in so many ways. Please know that we are ever grateful. 

Please visit our donate page on our website at http://www.ikhayalikababa.co.za/get-involved/donate to see our needs list and where you can be of help to us should you be stirred to get involved. 

Our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ikhayalikababa/ is updated regularly with daily life at iKhaya and with urgent needs. Please like and share our page with friends should you wish to be kept in the loop. 

With love and regards 

Loressa and the iKhaya family 

Matthew 18:10 "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.."

Fantasyland Dance Show
Our school going kids reaped the reward of their hard work and dedication in learning to dance with Dance Academy this year by taking part in the dance show called Fantasyland. They looked fabulous with their makeup, glitz and glamour and had the time of their lives! They absolutely loved the stage and taking part in this event. Thanks to Kim van der Merwe for this awesome opportunity in allowing our kids to learn and thrive through dance!

Celebrations as Alpha and Omega Turn Three
Our twins, Alpha and Omega, turned 3 years in December and were treated to a special party with cake and gifts from the Zululand BWA. Birthday parties are a treat and joy for all kids (old and young) and ours are no different; they revel in being the centre of attention and thoroughly enjoy the festivities of the moment. Thanks for making our kids birthdays so joyous and for building memories they will cherish.

Our Holiday Program for the Year End Break
The many weeks of our summer holiday were jam packed with activities to keep the kids active both mentally and physically. These pics speak of some of the fun that was had.

Swimming at the Empangeni Town Pool
The heat is on! Thanks to the help of volunteers, Liana and Ivan, our kids enjoyed a lovely fun-in-the-sun-day at the local municipal pool.

Giving new meaning to body painting…
Creativity at its best! Sarah and Pauline gave the kids paint and a huge piece of paper and let them go wild. Needless to say the kids had a blast and made an “artistic mess”.

Colourful Specs…
What an amazing job the kids made of their glasses. Aren’t they clever? Thanks Hinke for this imaginative activity!

Releasing some energy…
The kids enjoy taking walks around our awesome property. We are truly blessed to have our home situated at Solid Ground Church with grounds so wide and beautiful. We live in the countryside yet are close enough to town for all other needs like shopping, schoolling and medical care.

St Lucia Outing
A day trip to St Lucia with Ivan, Liana and the Oxley Family was thoroughly enjoyed by all!

Fun at Home

Carols by Candlelight

Christmas Day
Our kids were blessed enormously by the imitative “Santa Show Boxes” with the most generous gift boxes for Christmas. They received clothing, toiletries, sweets and toys. Wow, the sponsors pulled out all stops to make bless the kids. Thanks for caring and spoiling so many less fortunate kids in this way. May you in turn receive blessings from our Heavenly Father who sees and knows what you do in secret.

Thanks once again to everyone who played a part in our lives in 2015. Without the support of the community, both locally and internationally, together with the input and help of volunteers, we would not achieve the level of love and care that we do in our home. You are all amazing and we appreciate you more than words will ever express. May 2016 be a year of abundance for you and you families. By abundance I mean love, joy, peace, giving and receiving. Warm regards Loressa and the iKhaya team