We have had many wonderful moments here in the House of Happiness over the last few days. Yesterday we celebrated the October birthday children - a real party! Together with my mother, I baked a sheet cake and decorated it lovingly. The sparkle in the children's eyes was priceless and reminded us once again how wonderful it is to take part in the everyday life of the House of Happiness.
The children help incredibly much - whether it's looking after the little ones, in the garden, in the kitchen or doing the laundry. We often spend the evenings together peeling potatoes or shorten our midday nap to do some laundry. Our washing machine, which we bought a year ago, urgently needs a spare part. But as is often the case here, we have the appliances but no suitable spare parts, as many things are imported from China. While we wait for a solution from a local plumber, women from the village earn some money by washing the laundry by hand - hard work, especially in the heat.
Speaking of heat, it is very dry at the moment and we are longing for rain. Although it storms almost every evening, our region unfortunately remains dry. Our two water mains no longer supply water, so we have to rely on expensive tankers to meet our daily needs.
One of our children, who suffers from diabetes, deserves special praise. She has learned so much in the last few months and is dealing with her illness very responsibly. Our whole team now knows how to measure blood sugar and inject insulin. After the initial tears, it is now working surprisingly well. To ensure that she is not left out of celebrations, we have brought extra sugar-free chocolate from Switzerland - a small gesture that means a lot to her.
The House of Happiness is more than just a place to live - it is a home full of warmth, challenges and community. Despite all the hurdles, we look forward, full of hope and gratitude for each and every day.
