Samoutou Family Blog
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About This Blog...

Family of 5 
from Gabon, Hong Kong and the UK   

Living in Impfondo,   
Republic of Congo   
Since April 2012 

Blog by Joyce the mum, 
Homeschooling novice, 
Eye Charity founding doctor / director. 
Reluctant domestic goddess 

Passionate about sashimi, 
helping people see 
physically and spiritually,   
and Jesus   


 

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P.S. This is the personal blog of the Samoutou family  
(Views our own)  
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01
Newsletter December 2011: Puberty Edition
December 1, 2011

How is your year going?  Can you believe that we are in December already!?   At the beginning of the year, we had no idea about the roller coaster ride we were in for!  To think that we have yet to reach Congo!

 

Growing pains cum the Wonder Years!

 

Last time we wrote, we were being stretched like Elastigirl.  Now we feel like we are going though puberty again!  We have:

-           Acne days as we stay up late to prepare for Congo whilst continuing to work full time and look after the kids

-           Eaten embarrassing humble pies as we stumble through practical sessions for several Dummies’ guides including bike repair, setting up internet systems, solar panels, homeschooling, gardening, Lingala, accounting, legal paperwork, speaking on the radio!

-           Heart-searching (hormonal) moments as we prepare ourselves and our children to say good-bye to loved ones and the life that we love in the UK. 

-           Been spoilt rotten! Joyce cut her working hours by 25% to work more on New Sight, but she is now paid more than when she worked more hours!

-           Awkwardness as we travel beyond our comfort zone to fundraise and ask for practical help

-           Messy rooms with piles of laundry as we spin around the to-do list that refuses to shorten despite many items being crossed off every day!

So yes, it has been a bit crazy!  But we are so thankful for all the lessons from hindsight and for all the kind support and patient help!  We are especially thankful for Joyce’s parents who go above and beyond to help us especially with looking after the kids.

 

 

Teen Challenge

 

Here are some of the events on our diary: Presentation at Regional ophthalmologists’ meeting, fundraising pamper parties, and charity stall at school fair.  The biggest challenge by far was the auction dinner hosted by award winning Casa Mia Restaurant in November.  After months of sheer hard work, we had the most wonderful evening celebrating the thousands of lives who are about to see again and receive the ultimate make-over of their lives!  We had Braille menus, blindfolding experiment, live entertainment with our own theme song 'By the rivers of Brazzaville' which was set to the music of 'By the rivers of Babylon', raffle draw, and auction of some very unique items such as 9 course Chef's table in a 2-Michelin-starrred restaurant in Italy with a once in a lifetime opportunity to assist in the preparation of their own food, personal tour of the new multi-million pound Hepworth Gallery by its founding director, Badminton master classes by Commonwealth medallist, as well as a Leeds United football Shirt made extra special as it was signed by absolutely everybody!  All this was topped off by some stunning fireworks sent by Leeds City Council to congratulate our great cause.  The crowds from the Christmas lights switch-on in town on the same night enjoyed them too!  =) We raised nearly £5000 which propelled us onto 2/3 of our target to raise £100 000 in the first year. Sight is priceless, and support is priceless too!  Support empowers us to go, touch hearts and transform lives.  So what we raised on the night was far beyond £5000 - you simply cannot put a figure to it.  It is priceless! 

 

 

Top 10 things that we need / you can pray for:

 

  1. Fundraise the last 1/3 to reach our target for the first year.  An extraordinarily generous lady has bought air-tickets for Joyce to go to Hong Kong to fundraise in January. Please let us know if you or people you know (e.g. churches, friends, businesses) would like to hear about our exciting project
  2. Find regular donors to partner with us.  We do not want to get into a situation where we are out in the Congo with all the life-transforming medical equipment and can't continue with our eye centre! 
  3. Build a team of volunteers!  We desperately need a team who will help us now and when we leave the UK.  No experience required!  Just a willing heart with a precious gift of time! 
  4. Shipping solution! We have yet to find a shipping company who will sea freight from the UK to the capital of Congo.  We are the cause of hair loss for some veteran shipping businessmen as they struggle to help us!  We would rather not pay the hefty air freight charges
  5. Decision-making and favour as we source and purchase an 80-page long inventory list for the eye centre
  6. Wisdom to prioritise our time and energy.  We are often given 'contacts' and ‘ideas’ which may help.  We have learnt that we cannot do it all, especially as we come closer to our departure.  We are planning to leave at the end of February when Karis will be old enough to complete her hepatitis B vaccination.
  7. A strong and quiet heart.  It is a challenge to find the balance between striving and working hard to realise your dreams.  It is also a challenge to deal with the anxious thoughts that can be disguised as ‘legitimate concerns’.  For example, whilst we thank God that Cherissa received a glowing school report, taking her away from the security of an environment where she is thriving can unsteady us.
  8. Preparing our children for the heat, being far away from their friends and grandparents to whom they are much attached to, a life without cereals, cheese, washing machine, libraries and playgrounds
  9. Henri to finish his Community Eye Health course
  10. Strength to attack our to-do and packing list!  The wish to both travel light and be as prepared as possible in such a remote place

 

Above all, celebrate with us the amazing grace of God and all His wonderful blessings!

 

 

A bit about our 3 Musketeers:

 

  1. Cherissa is now officially a bookworm with an ever growing Afro.  We might have to succumb to getting her a kindle for Congo
  2. Ezra turned 3 and loves using metaphors e.g. I love you like ice-cream!  He also likes to ask if we are going to Congo today.
  3. Karis likes to hum when she eats, copy her siblings, pretend to be a monster and talk… in sentences already! (Wonder who she takes after!)

 

 

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

 

If you are dreading the shopping queues and can’t think of what to buy for your loved ones, you might like to visit our online Priceless gift store (www.samoutou.com/priceless).  It is a simple online gift list service, where instead of chocolates and CDs, you purchase gits such as glasses, vitamins and operations for us to give to real people in Congo.  You will receive a gift certificate that you can give to your loved ones to explain the very meaningful gifts you have given in their honour.  These gifts never sit on shelves.  They are always wanted, needed and make a real difference in people’s lives! 

 

On that note, may we wish you the loveliest Christmas and the happiest New Year! 

 

Thank you so much again for your love, support and encouragement through the year, even when we act like teenagers on a bad hair day!

 

Oodles and oodles of love,

Joyce, Henri, Cherissa, Ezra and Karis

xxxxx



 

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