Welcome to South Africa

Somehow I quickly went from having 8 days until I left to being in South Africa for almost a week now. Crazy how fast time flies. Life was a bit hectic and only really got stressful in the last hour before I left the base because, well, quite frankly, I was still trying to pack and had to take a shower and clean my room and take care of things to be ready for me to leave, along with a whole list of other things. My friend Karisse got great joy out of watching me be a bit stressed at the last minute because she said I was just too calm to be leaving on outreach for 2 months up to that point.

I am used to having internet at my disposal anytime I want, for however long I need it but here you have to use internet cafes, which I am grateful for, but can't say I am a fan of. I am not sure if I will be able to post any pictures while I am here, but if not, I will do a series of them when I get back.

We have been in Johannesburg for the last week. Yesterday, we went to an AIDS home/orphanage. They house adults and children, but we were working with the kids. They say that 85% of the kids in there have AIDS themselves. Some come with their mothers or fathers and then when their parents die, they just live in the home as well. We did dramas and Bible stories and just sat with the kids. I am not in any of the skits so I get the pleasure of sitting with the kids and being able to enjoy the program with them. The second we walked in the gate, a little boy walked up to me and put his arms up for me to hold him....and that is what I did the entire time we were there. We then went over to another area for smaller kids, and again, as soon as I walked in, a little baby boy crawled up to me and held his hand up. I will never complain to hold a baby. Unfortunately, we can't stay forever so when I put him down, he stared weeping...like the "gasping-for-breath" crying. It's so heartbreaking to be in that position because I want to hold him and love him as much as possible and that is what he wants and needs. But there just aren't enough people working in these places to give them the attention and love that they need.

Please be praying for our team as we head north in the country to a small town called Vaalwater on Tuesday. We will be staying in the same place for the rest of the outreach (until the end of May).