Can't believe this much time has passed!

Today we left the orphanage.  It was hard to go.  I cannot believe it has been over a week and our time is done here.  The rest of our team goes on to Shangube, please keep them in your prayers!

We said goodbye to the kids at our home away from home.  The children were sad to see us go.  We were sad to leave.  I am so hopeful we can come back.  The children sent us off with some children's worship songs.  It was very sweet. 

This past week we spent more time helping teach at the school in the orphanage and going out to give the Smart Choices AIDS/HIV curriculum to the schools.  One school we travelled to was deep into the hills.  We went off roading in Clement's car which has serious alignment issues.  When we were driving behind him you could see the front wheels well to the right of the back wheels.  When we were driving with him I noticed that he drove with the steering wheel completely to the right.  Prayed and prayed.  Here they have very little concern for personal space and hitchhiking is a way of life.  We stopped to ask for directions.  The lady just jumped into the back seat to catch a ride and show us herself.  Unfortunately this pushed Christina out the other side.  So Christina had to jump into the front seat with me.  So we continued on the bumpy road with Christina scrunched up on my lap.  All new experiences!  The public school we went to was very interesting.  The buildings are very plain.  Nothing on the walls except a single chalkboard at the front of the class.  All of the students are wearing uniforms giving an illusion of structure.  Some of the kids were not wearing shoes.  It had been raining for a couple days and we found out that when it rains here they cancel school, since the roads are too muddy and flooded to walk on.  We gave the talk in a large room.  We had close to 200 students in the class.  They translated what we taught into Zulu.  We reached children as young as 4th grade, so we are hopeful that the seriousness of the issue really sinks in with them.

Back at the orphanage we noticed that one of the boys did not have black school shoes.  So we went out to the store and baught him a new pair.  I cannot explain the feeling that came over us when we saw his reaction to receiving his new shoes.  He was so greatful he didn't even know what to say.  He was so happy.  The next day we saw him in school.  Somewhere he had found an old suit jacket to put on over his uniform.  He was going around showing off his new shoes.  He was so happy.  When the teacher told him he had mud on his shoes he bent down and wiped it off with his hand to make sure they kept clean.  It warmed our heart!

Yesterday I taught some of the worship songs we do to Jana Alayra to the children.  They all loved it so much.  All the way to 9th grade they danced and sang.  Thank you to Dawn for donating the CD's.  The children were so happy!  

We have so much to say but so little time with internet access.  We are still filled with joy and are still excited to be here!  :)  I am sure we will all write more when we get home.  We love you all!

 

Anjuli :)