Another week has flown by!

My weeks are somewhat becoming a routine – which is nice.  However flexibility is still key here!  The kids that I home school in the mornings were not consistent this week because their dad (who is on staff with All Nations) got the mumps!  This opened up a few mornings.  I filled them with helping with the work happening here in the house and on Friday I joined the American team here in Masiphumelele. 

Here is what the kitchen looks like!

I was able to find rides to Red Hill this week – thanks for praying!  The guys that we work with from Living Hope on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays picked me up so that I could help them with the children.  Everyday the children are given dinner so we help out with that.  We also help out with the bible stories and prayer time that occurs (almost) everyday.  On Tuesday Ritmwa and I lead the story time with the teenagers.   Thursday I spent nearly 6 hours in Red Hill with the children.  There was an American basketball team visiting from Belmont University who wanted to play netball and soccer with the kids so we helped and facilitated that!  We had nearly the whole township watching these tall Americans pass the ball over the heads of the Red Hill netball team!  I stood with Papa Williams and Bantu (another local man of Peace) and laughed. 

On Wednesday I also was able to go to Red Hill in the evening for the bible study at Nomandla’s!  It was a really great time!  We talked to them about how we just want to be there and help them if they need it but it’s really about them.  We want them to lead it and not rely on us so that when we leave we wont be taking the group with us.  We encouraged them to speak in Xhosa and really take control of it.  It was neat to see what happened.  Nomandla really took charge and asked the others questions and they even broke out in song at one point.  I won’t lie – it was a little boring since we didn’t know what they were talking about the entire time.  But it was still beautiful to see God working in their small group! 

I also spent some time in Masi.  We spend 2 afternoons with the children from Vulnerable Children.  On Wednesday we had a huge party for them and all their friends.  We passed out food and had a craft.  It was pretty crazy because there is another team here from the states (30 of them!) working in Masi with us.  It was good though because the kids were able to get plenty of attention!  On Friday morning I went and walked around in the Wet Lands with 2 people from the American team.  We went and looked for people that we could get to know and pray for.  It was a good time!  In fact, some of the others who were walking around prayed for a man's leg so that he didn’t need to use a cane and the Lord healed him!  He was walking around freely from that moment on!  Praise God!

There is some sad news though.  When we were in Masi on Friday Christianne and another intern with All Nations were mugged.  They both had their bags stolen.  So we are being even more careful and trying not to carry anything around with us.  (Which is why I still do not have photos of my times in the townships)  If you would like to continue to pray for safety that would be much appreciated!  

Gearing up to go out in the rain!