HAPPY DASHAIN to our children in Nepal. Yes, it is that time of year again when Nepali people celebrate the 15-day national festival of Nepal. This festival, like our Christmas, is known for emphasis on family gatherings. People will return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate together. So most of the children in the orphanage have returned to their villages to celebrate…and to enjoy two weeks without school and homework!! The children who remain at OHC are with Geeta, our new house-in-charge. Geeta is doing a wonderful job! The children adore her and she is bringing so much love, discipline and good values to the center. She is attending to their health issues and revising their daily nutrition as well as learning how to do the administrative work. We are incredibly happy with Geeta’s work and diligence. Recent news… We are integrating our new arrival, Sushna, into the OHC family. I will have more information on her later. We have bought two new beds for the girls who have been squeezing into one. Little Laxmi had a wort on her hand removed by minor operation. Shree Krishna will meet his brother after Dashain vacation. Punam and Kalpana continue to be at OHC daily while tending to their mother in the evenings. Finally, a big thank you to Kiwi Glenn Marvin who hosted a fun and very successful fundraising evening in Auckland. About $10,000 was raised for OHC and GEN. Already we have put some of it to good use at OHC – new government rules state that all charities need a safety fund in the bank (in OHC’s case USD $1500). So we have been able to do that and consequently successfully renewed our charity registration in Nepal a few days ago. We have also spent some of the money on setting up new girl Sushna (school uniform, clothes etc) and also furniture for Geeta, as well as covering the hike in food and fuel costs that sponsorship no longer meets. Throughout the next year we will continue to tell you how this money is being spent. A big thank you to those people who have sent clothes my way so I can deliver them to the kids in November. I now have well over my quota!