Tuesday 26 May 2015

Life is a celebration

Mama and Janet
An annual celebration of life is held every May at the Happy House to coincide with the anniversary of the death of the most influential man in Mama Sue's life  - her father.
It was the death of Sue's beloved dad, Harold Hayes,in 1999, that led to her going to Kenya and the start of the journey which has brought us to her Happy House.

When Harold died suddenly, Sue was devastated and eight months later, fearing she would have a breakdown, Dave took her to Kenya for a holiday and it was there her charity work began.
Auntie Lucy
And celebrating life is what Harold would have wanted for his daughter, and what Mama wants for her Happy House kids who have suffered so much loss and hardship before coming to us.
With this in mind she decided on a celebration of life each year in May.
"This year's celebration of life was just lovely and very moving," says Mama. "We started with the Lord's Prayer, and I thanked God for bringing us together
"Then I spoke about my dad, Dave his mum, Billy his dad and brother, and three of the aunties and four of our teachers spoke of their loved ones. 
The children sang a lovely hymn they sing in church and and later sang "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands."
"The teachers then sang a very moving song about a train coming when it's your time to go and you telling your loved one, I am OK my dear.
"It was very emotional but also very uplifting."