Imagine a place set in the serenity of the country-side just a shuttle’s drive from the city. Surrounded by lush flora, tall shady Palm trees, a vegetable garden here and flower garden there, rich fertile soil from which all manner of fruit trees blossom and bloom with the loving care of families in love with each other and with nature.

The early morning breeze is made glad by the laughter of children, the gentle words of farewell from two dedicated, loving parents as their house full of children stampede off to school, dressed in their neat, crisp-clean uniforms, they pass along the paved streets of their little valley with a song in their hearts, still humming the tunes they sang not so long ago at family worship, not a care in the world… the afternoon air is hushed except for the sweet chatter of birds basking in the afternoon sun as the children learn all manner of subjects, from science to social studies to moral values.

The school bell announces the period the children love best ~ Farm Service, they get to milk the cows, feed the poultry, tend to the sheep, chase the ducklings and play with the horses and ponies, all the while learning lessons of love, care and responsibility for life and the maintaining thereof. Before returning home for lunch and family time, the children stop off for a little leisure; boys will be boys ~ the cricket and football field is well-used and their uniforms take a sure beating. The girls sit around in the play park chatting, or venture a game of volley ball while the younger ones attack the slides and swings in a challenge to reach the highest heights. Some of the older girls and boys returned to the school after the Farm fun straight to the library to put in an extra hour of study before lunch ~ mom and dad would be proud of their next report cards.

The house bells sound the alarm for a nutritious lunch…all games lose their luster and the stampede rushes down the footpaths passed the staff houses to the little havens, as the saying holds true, north, south, east, west, home is the place I find best. The smell of valley baked bread, steaming rice, stews and curries that make your mouth water before you even set eyes on it, welcomes each child as they dash to their rooms to change out of their uniforms and wash up. By the time they come down the stairs and help mom set the table, dad says grace and the family sits down to share the day’s highs and lows.

Study time rolls in and each child is well occupied in various activities, mom and dad are very busy helping out with homework and helping a little too much with school projects. Time hastens towards the families most cherished hour when they get spend the evening outside, pruning their vegetable  gardens and mom and dad get to teach their children from the beautiful textbook of nature, captivated in star gazing or learning about insects and birds, some families enjoy a round of exercise, jogging around the valley or playing badminton, while others take a trip to the farm and play with the animals, making sure they’ve been fed and the horses and cattle have been brushed down for the evening.

Everyone meets at home for a hearty meal followed by family worship, where all quarrels are settled for the day, and all let not the sun set on their anger ~ before retiring for the night. The little ones get tucked into bed with a Christ-based bed-time story, while the older ones settle in with hot drink and some inspiring books to ennoble their thoughts and cast their aspirations heavenward.