Just wanted to share a few things with you that have been happening around here. Exciting things, new experiences, randomness and just other different things : )

Two weeks ago the creche was donated this awesome playset by a couple from our church and the kids absolutely LOVE it! The first day or two Sibongile said she couldn't even get the kids inside at all! They were all just piled on this thing! As you can see you can barely see what is actually is! haha.

Yesterday we received the biggest donation we have ever recieved from a local frozen foods place called Cold Chain. So many bags of fries and mixed veggies and pizza's and meat pies. Me and D had fun with the Pastor Peter and Angeline as we sorted through it and packed it all in the coolers. We don't even have a freezer big enough to put all of it in so we gave some away and stored the rest in coolers.

Also this week we were able to give out nice toques, mitts and socks to some of the children of the families that we give a food parcel to each week. It was so nice because it is soo cold at night and in the mornings here! I just wish every child could have a pair! It's so hard to see and think that most of them feel so cold for so long : ( Next week we hope to give out some blankets.

Last weekend we have an outreach for a group of virgins from the township here at the mission. Every month these girls get together on a Friday night and they are encouraged and go through a testing to make sure they are still virgins. The pressure to have sex is SO high in the townships but these girls have been very strong and we are proud of them for it! There was a morning program set up for them and then at the end they performed their virgin dance and song for us. So different from what our culture would think! Topless girls would not be thought of as virgins! It's so interesting/wierd how different cultures can be.

Then on Monday night us girls had a crazy night of dressing up random and funny and sharing a meal together and having fun laughing lots in a game of 30 seconds : )

So ya, there's just some things that have been happening over here lately : )

Cheers!

Family in Africa!!

My time with my family was soo incredible! Wow! They were actually HERE with me! That is just way too cool : ) Once again, I give all the glory to God for making it all work out for them to come to Africa. They truly enjoyed, each one of them and they experience A LOT in just two and half weeks! But even though it was busy it was well worth it. Plus there was many times for us to just relax as well. Praise the Lord, they didn't experience ANY jetlag! Really that is a miracle because 8 hours difference really can mess up your body.. Dione and I sure suffered for at least a good week! I think Dione a little long even.

They arrived May 12, in Durban (a city on the coast) and we spent a few days there, seeing some of the sights, going out for supper and playing in the waves and Aaron and I tried to learn how to surf. Oh yeah! And my birthday was so awesome, first because I got the best b-day present ever! (My fam coming to Africa of course) and also because the restarant we went to was very African style and the waitress and waiters were all dressed in their African gear and our waitress came around washing each one of our hands and painting our faces. And the BEST thing was having 4 black singers dressed as the Jackson 5 come around the table to sing happy birthday to me in a sweet African tune. haha, so great.

Then we flew to the famous and BEAUTIFUL Cape Town, on the other coast-side of South Africa and spent a few days there. I didn't realize how much there was to do in Cape Town so our time was quite a bit too short but I'm still so thankful we went because we were blessed so much there. Every thing that we were able to experience and seeing and getting to know Joseph and Eileen better was so worth it. Such wonderful, hospitable people who really love the Lord. While there we got to see a castle, a beautiful botanical garden, HUGE crashing waves. Seriously I've never seen such big ones! We did a lot of street vendor shopping and got nice cheap stuff.. haha. We went to Robben Island which is the island where many blacks, including Nelson Mandela, were held in prison during the aparthied years. We enjoyed a very nice fancy meal along the waterfront. We saw magfinicent mountain ranges, and rocks and so much green! There were a few things I would have loved to do but they just didn't work out for us but that was fine. That will just be for the next time I visit!

Having my family get to see what I've been doing here in Africa was so special to me. And I'm sure very special to them also. They enjoyed it a lot. Playing with the children at the crèche, play center, during the hospital visits and in the townships on outreach and Kid’s Club; giving food parcels and praying with families in great need; gardening (my mom), and physical labor around the mission (my brother). For those of you who will be seeing them soon, I’m sure they will tell you much more! They were touched with the great need here and at the same time greatly encouraged at the work the Lord is doing here at Melusi.

As well we got to enjoy some African animals on the Saturday. We went to a game reserve called Ithala with Dione and Judy and it was fun just to see more of Africa and enjoy the fellowship together. Warthogs are now my favorite animals...well one of my favorites! They are TOO cute!

The Lord is so good and I know I have been very blessed to have had my family share with me the ministry here in South Africa.

Enjoy the pics!

Lindsay