Bethany reflections Easter 2007.

I visited The Bethany Family along with my husband and two small children for two weeks at Easter this year (2007)

For two years(1997-1999) Bethany was my home and we saw the number of children increase from 3 to 16. It had been 7 years since my last visit and being part of the UK Team I was well aware of the developments during that time. Although I had been told by many people of the happy peaceful place out in Tanzania, my thinking could not grasp how over a hundred children could live together and maintain the family feel of all those years ago.

The whole experience at Bethany this time was totally amazing. All the children looking out for and caring for each other, getting on with life peacefully.

As all guests are, we were made very welcome and the love and acceptance shown to our children (age 2 and 5) was overwhelming.

Having thought about all that I saw and experienced over Easter and having spoken to one of the older boys at Bethany, it seems to me that these children who now make up the Bethany Family, who have come from the most tragic circumstances (many escaping death) now have something more precious than many children in the world today. They know that they are loved by many people not only in Tanzania but all over the world and that enables them to share that same love with others.