So lately...
I am sitting on the lawn, contemplating the last couple days.. some of my fam bam is playing soccer..this has been such a wonderful semester I don't want to even leave, at Pietermaritzburg is gorgeous and I know when we had down to Cape Town is going to be bomb beautiful though.
Mmmm So the weekend consisted of finishing up a 10 page paper for our Community Engagement Class..while hanging out at what has come to be our favorite coffee stop Flavor Cafe :) I went on Saturday and Sunday..all day Saturday worked on my paper,..and Sunday walked with Penny and Ely..and we did our devotions, read, and journaled..was a splendid day with the most wonderful people..beautiful walk too. Enjoying the last couple days here at African Enterprise. It has been nothing but a joy. //sidenote listening to this new awesome Music by Josh Garrels.. awesome check out his album Love & War and Sea in Between//
Monday~ had class for 8 hours.. and just a chill day...it ended up raining..and watched movies and cuddled with my girls in our chalets.
Tuesday~ We woke up to more rain..the rain is wonderful, but for many of the townships we visit it ruin their mud/clay/rock homes, and they often have to rebuild them frwquently. Also, during the raining season is when many of the kids become very sick.. I see and end up wiping so many children's running noses. The first half of tuesday we spent with the HIV-support group women// This is the third time we have hung out with them// This time we played a lot of different games..one of them being the "telephone game" this was so funny because between their Zulu and our English the message got so tangled and the outcome was hilarious at the end, we laughed so hard. Then they taught us some Zulu dances and we taught them dances and once again just laughed and were full of Joy.. one of the ladies had never laughed so hard before, because Derek had such good dancing skills..haha Oh what Joy and Laughter can do for a heart. Was such a blessed time. Love those women and love the Social Workers that we get to hang out with there as well. After the support group we headed back to hang out at the Drop off center, it was still kind of raining, but it was so fun hanging in the rain with the kids. We danced along to someone Ipod and played some musical chair..and of course piggy back rides..tag..and just laughing and catching rain all around..love these kids..ahah sometimes they well ask to take pictures with my camera so at the end of the day there will be like 100 some extra pictures taken, which is always a crazy laugh. Mmm but come back from hanging out with the kids and I am extremely tired but it is all worth it..when we got home from service sites a bunch of us played soccer in the rain and slid in the mud, by far my one of my favorite things to do..then at night just had good conversations with people who have become my family here and I have come to love so much.
Wednesday~We went to a gogos (grandma's and elderly women) support group, truly beautiful woman of God runs it (Novula- I think that is somewhere close to how to spell her name). She runs a day care at here house, provides a garden for the community, provides free meals for whoever needs them on wednesdays, and let's orphans stay at her home. She is 48 years old. She totally lives by faith. She has next nothing..., but gives to the last bit... We got to help her in the garden, play with the kids, and help her cook. She made us yummy Zulu bread... Mmmm words can't explain.. she is like a little Mother Teresa. Loved playing with the children. It has become normal to see kids peeing right out side the house...just another side note. In the afternoon we hung out at the Drop off Center..We colored and wrote notes with some of the kids. It was a blast..somehow all the colors got lost in the grass, but it was the sweetest thing ever Clare, Princess, Bridget, and Sine all wrote me beautiful letters :) I am blessed... so much joy all around. Later that day my little boys come and tackle me and I got to see my precious little girl Famida. We rolled in the grass, played duck duck goose..and ran around..that is one of her favorite things to do is run!! It was a splendid day at Riv' Life so blessed to be here. Love the beautiful kids! Wednesday night we went out as a Riv' Life team and got Italian food..Mmmmm pizza..it was bomb dig, so much laughter and joy within our group so full. God is good. Once again no words describe these experiences.
Thursday~Mmmmm this morning we went on some home visits with the Social Workers..many of the people were fixing their homes because of the rain, but it was a hot day as we walked through the town ships..Kids running around, dogs barking, many gardens popping up along everywhere. The majority of the people we stopped by had Hiv-aids, and we were checking if they had an ID or if they were still getting their treatment. Non of them had jobs, made a living off grants, gardens, collecting medal, and so on. There was a women going blind, she just shimmered with grace as we talked about her beautiful garden and the flowers that surrounded her house. I had the opportunity to pray for a dad and his kids. His wife died because of aids, and 2 of his daughters have HIV, he quit his job so he could stay home with them. Inside myself I am fighting back the tears...mmmm God I do not understand sometimes, my heart aches every time we do home visits..As we were walking along Kenzie and I were talking about how embarrassed we would be if they saw are homes back in America, ...// to much as been given much is required// ... Then hung out at the HIV-aid support group..I ended up making paper airplanes with the kids and throwing balls high to the sky...so much fun. I love being a kid again... and dearly love children..reminder of having child like faith..and Jesus' heart for the kids in his Kingdom. Later that day, we went back to the drop in center. When I got there people told me that Famida had been waiting for me all day to come back, she wrote me a letter, It started off with "Dear Mom, I have miss you! I hope you are happily well..you are such a joy in my life and so beautiful.." I have no words, but my eyes watered, this girl has been a gem..We sat down and talked for awhile in the shaded grassy area.. she told me that she might have to change schools, and I asked why. Famida said that here parents have been fighting a lot lately, so she has been staying with her grandma. Her dad stays and works in Joburg and she doesn't see her mom very often. When she sees her dad he just gives her nice gifts. //It is common for the dad to be absent in many of these communities here// I asked how she was doing and she just sat in my lap and cried and cried. I just rocked her and sang a quiet song, and prayed for peace in her life, and told her how much she is loved.. My heart breaks. This young year old girl is so strong, smart, fast runner, beautiful, has so many dreams & aspirations, so thoughtful, yet so broken inside..the rest of the day we just hung out and talked and found joy in the little things, ..like frogs, running away from bugs, playing in the grass, jumping, letting the kids take pictuers..sharing food, and talking about Jesus. It was a taste of heaven. I can just see God smiling on all his literal children. It was a hot day, but the blue sky was so brilliant.
TODay...Friday..Good Friday. This morning we spent some time reflecting on the sacrifice Christ has made for us, it was good way to start right off the bat with focusing on Jesus death for all of us. It was once again humbling and hurt knowing that we put him on that Cross...
~Later in the day we walked to Flavor Cafe which will probably be the officially last time..( love that place).. Then we came back and had a slip and slide on the lawn, mud fight, and jumped in the water fall....and celebrated Nicole's 21st Birthday with some red velvet cake. Later tonight we are all watching the Passion of Christ, which is always a hard one to watch, but a good reminder of the reality of what Jesus did, and the victory we have in him. Tommorow we are heading to Durban. // we have one week left at African Enterprise and PMB..how fast time has gone..I find myself taking mental pictures in my mind of all around me...//Mmmm and mom when you read this Happy almost Birthday and I love you..and Anna if you read this have a great time in Jackson ..love you.//
Shalom& Love..
