I thought I would add some pics... it's been a great four months. God has done some awesome things in my life. I look forward to seeing all of you once I get home... the top pic is my GR-R class and me from Yzterplaat. I'll so miss my kids.. the next pic is four teens from SOS Children's Village, Denzel; my leader, Lucky, Birgit; another volunteer from Germany and me. We went out to the movies and celebrated the end of the school year. We had a great time. The last pic is from the wedding I attended this past weekend. A good friend of mine, Elridge got married.

I will be arriving home on December 7 at 6:10pm in Appleton, assuming all my flights go smooth.. Please continue to keep me in your prayers at my time ends.. For my long flight home.. and for the pain that I'm still suffering from the car accident almost three weeks ago. Thank you!

Less Than Two Weeks

It's been a little bit of whirl-wind experience since I got back to Cape Town. It's been good spending time with the rest of the volunteers. On Tuesday evening, Lucky arrived to spend five days in Cape Town, before I head home. It's been good to have him here. The school year is winding down for us, due to it being year-around school. Classes end next Friday, which seems so soon.
I can't believe that my four months here is coming to an end. It's been a great four months. I've learned so much about myself, and God's plan for my life within South Africa. I don't know all the details yet, but I do know that I am coming back and when I do it will be for about 2 years. Which is a little hard for me, when I told myself that I would never live overseas, but I've learned when you tell God never, He changes it to happening..lol :P But in all honesty this is home.. and I believe that for this season in my life, THIS is where I'm suppose to be.
God has been showering me with His love in mighty ways lately. And I can't help but smile from ear to ear!
Thank you for your prayers and support. I know that because of you, that I can head home knowning God completed what He set aside for this time.
Love Ya!!

It's my first chance to actually update you since I arrived in Jo'burg last week Monday. A lot has occurred since my last update. The flight here was a little rough, but it's been good being here and spending time with Lucky. On Tuesday and Thursday last week, I went to the prison with Lucky and his crew and had a good time, doing lifeskills and team building with the juvenile boys that are awaiting trial. I'm going to miss going to the prison.. Tuesday was my last day there. On Wednesday, I went to Amakahya, which is an YFC orphanage for street children, with the other volunteers here and helped sort donated clothes all day. On Friday, I hung out at the YFC training center and then Friday night i hung out with my friend, Joke'. It was going to be a girl's night... But on our way home from getting the pizza and movie we were waiting to turn right and as the light was red and we were proceeding through.. a drunken driver ran through the red light and hit the rear wheel on the passenger's side of the car. We spun twice before we stopped. I suffered severe whip-lash, but I didn't go to the hospital. I"m doing better by today, but still in pain. Joke' was fine. Because he hit my side, I was hurt the most. It was so scary.. Pls let everyone who has been praying for me that I'm grateful for their prayers. The car was considered totaled.. and Joke' is driving a rental at the moment. On Saturday, the Jo'burg office had a benefit breakfast to raise support for Amakayha, is was very nice. Then in the afternoon we, the Jo'burg international volunteers and Lucky, went to Soweto, which is the biggest township in South Africa and where Lucky and his family lives. He took us to one of Nelson Mandela's houses and the Hector Pieterson Museum, which tells about Soweto's history... Then we went and met his grandparents, friends, and brother. I got to see where he lives too. His friends were very sweet and embraced me with open arms when they found out that I'm Lucky's woman.. and his brother is happy for both of us, which put a smile on my face. I really didn't get to talk with his family because we were with the volunteers, plus that was suppose to happen on Sunday, but it didn't. On of Lucky's friends aunt passed away and the funeral was on Sunday, so I attended the funeral with him in Soweto and then hung out with him and his friends after the funeral till about 5pm. It was a good time in Soweto. It's not a place that typically white will go, actually they will avoid it because they are afraid, but I felt safe during my time there. Actually, Lucky's friends didn't want me to leave Soweto, it was sweet. They want me to come back... and I just might. :P So, that's my time here in a nutshell. Things are still going well between Lucky and me. On Wednesday we went to the Constitution Hill Museum, which was an active prison for males and females, white and non-white until 1983. It is also where all Constitutional matters are conducted. Yesterday, I arrived back home in Cape Town. I'm happy to be back. I've missed the ocean, my girls and everyone else. I hope this msg finds everyone doing well.

Time in East London

It's been a whirlwind of experiences since I arrived here in East London. Staying with Mike, the director of YFC-East London and his wife, Zena has been a wonderful experience. They recently changed their garage to a bed and breakfast place, so I'm staying in one of the rooms by myself. I truly feel blessed and spoiled here. I've had more time to spend in God's presence these past two weeks and God has been speaking to me like crazy and it's awesome!Last week, I went to two schools where they are teaching peer education. The first school I went to I was in three classes. We opened it up for the kids to discuss whatever topic, which opened doors for me to share the gospel with them which was awesome. Praise God! The next day at the second school, I got to share with them about living in the US. I love the questions you get.. Kids are funny. Though this past week was an experience I'll never forget. I spent four days and three nights in a rural Xhosa village.Let me set the scene for you.... I staying in a small house made out of cement that had a metal roof, which leaked sometimes when it rained. The bathroom was an outside toliet and there was no running water. We used the rain water to do everything; cooking, cleaning and bathing. They only had a two burner unit for cooking and no oven. I stayed with Zandi, who works for YFC and grew up in the village, but doesn't live there anymore. We stayed with her brother's family. To make a long story somewhat story.. I learned what is truly going on in South Africa. There was probably about 150 houses/shacks in the village. 23 people within the village have AIDS and I'm sure there's more that don't even know they have AIDS. Zandi graduated with 22 people in her class and only three are still alive the rest of passed away from AIDS (Zandi is a little older than me). But the main experience was seeing how people are trapped in bondage in these villages and they are everywhere in South Africa. Zandi, like many South Africans, believe that you can be a Christian and still be a part of the ancestoral traditions. I experienced it first hand as her mom was preparing African beer for a celebration that was happening at the end of the week. The celebration consisted of inviting people from the community to enjoy the beer as they also placed some in the cow pen for the ancestors to enjoy. I got to be near my first witch doctor, who was present for the celebration, but not there for ceremonial purposes. The night before I had gotten a horrible headache that I couldn't shake.. I was under spiritual attack. I was glad that we were leaving that day. My spirit was wrestling the moment I arrived and Zandi shared her views on religion with me. I was respectful to her family during my time there and am grateful for the experience. God spoke to me BIG time after my time there. 2 Chron. 7:14, where it talks about if my people will pray, seek my face, humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and heal their land. That is God's desire for this country. That people will come to know the one true God, realizing they can't worship two. I attended the school in the village for a day and got to spend time time in the gr-r, gr-1 and gr-7 class. I found out that one of the kids in the gr-r class passed away during the time i was on the village. It rained most of the week and she caught the flu and her immune system was too low for her to fight it off and she already was suffering from AIDS. In the end, she didn't make it. My heart broke again. God has used this experience to OPEN my eyes to what is truly going on in the spiritual realm. The headache did pass after Mike, the director from YFC-East London, anointed me with oil and him and his wife, Zena, prayed over me.
These past two weeks have been a great experience for me. On Monday, I leave for Johannesburg, where I'll be spending 10 days there with Lucky. I'll be meeting his family and probably be going back into the prisons where they do team building and lifeskills with the juvenile boys. Please continue to keep me in your prayers. Thank you!
So, what is God saying to you? I'd love to hear. Take Care! Love Ya!