We now begin a new school year. As usual, WE DON’T KNOW what will happen in the future, in the lives of our children. Be it for good or for ill. Successes? Problems? Worthy projects? The death of a family member?… We simply don’t know. Whatever they encounter in their future lives, our challenge is to welcome, to love, to bring order, to live together, to encourage, to educate, to suffer and to enjoy. And that’s really all we need to know..
WE ALSO DIDN’T KNOW how the enormous financial challenge of our new Home would go. The first step is having to buy the new plot of land. We are surprised and very pleased. Of the € 480,000 we need, at the beginning of September only € 90,000 remained to be collected. Not a small amount, but we are confident that with everybody’s efforts and encouragement, we will reach our goal. We are extremely grateful. Over these last few months € 390,000 has come in thanks to the efforts of many friends, families and churches, and also two legacies left to our Home, the RIE. This is AMAZING! The final deadline to finish payment will be established in a few weeks’ time when the plot of land that we are buying has been formally segregated in a notarised agreement. So we have time.
As we start the new school year we say goodbye to two of our oldest teenagers, who were with us until the end of last term. As they now reach adulthood, they leave many memories behind. We wish them all the very best. But we have one boy and three little girls joining us, aged between four and seven. The “Emmanuel family” is changing and growing! WE KNOW that we can continue to move forward thanks to your kind and sensitive help, along with that of many others. Our heartfelt thanks for all you do!