Christmas in Shalom

Decided to go straight to Christmas other wise you will never get up to date news!! I am having trouble again uploading photos so hope this works.

Christmas has been busy and I got onto the TV! Due to a friend of Luisa (Shalom) having a contact with a national TV channel the Shalom Christmas party on 19th December involved a camera crew and several famous people - although I didn't know who they were!! They brought presents and a clown and other entertainment and we had a fun time together. The edited visit was shown on national TV on 24th and I recorded it with my camera although there is no sound. We hope to get a copy from the canal so hopefully you can see the all dancing all action version as opposed to the stills posted here (if I manange to !!!)

Luisa in charge of decoration with helpers Miguel Angel and Lidia

On Sunday 21st we had the Christmas service in Shalom with the children dressing up for the nativity story. Thankfully we had taken out the partition in the main room so we were able to fit everyone in - well at a push and with many standing.

After the servce we had the traditional hot chocolate and paneton provided by a friend Doris and some sweets and a Christmas mug for everyone.

I also attended a Christmas activity in the Sector Victor Raul, where we hope to build the new centre, and began to get to know some of the children and families living in our new neighbourhood. Shalom is moving premises in the new year as we are really unable to function in such a small space. We are going to rent all the ground floor of a house of one of the community leaders so we will have a bit more space for the time being. It is also a good move to get into comminuty life and start being a Christian presence in Victor Raul and encourage them to take some initiatives to improve their community. Please pray as this signifies a lot more pastoral work and my time is stretched already as you know!