Busy Week

This week was very busy, but exciting. Monday was a big party for Pastor Cheryl's birthday. She organized the party for herself...which seemed a bit amusing at first. But it was really a night of praising God. She had more than an hours worth of singers/musicians singing praise songs. She tried her best to keep the focus off of her birthday and on God. She even gave a small gift to everyone who came. After the music, there was lots of great food. I dont like crowds, especially crowds full of strangers. So I was very happy to have been given a job....I had to cut cakes and help collect dishes and return them to the kitchen (No one uses paper plates here, they consider it wasteful and only use real dishes).

Wednesday we had to say goodbye to Erin and Russell (college missionaries that were here for 2 months). It was hard to see them go. Those 2 really helped me learn the ropes of the Day Care. They got dropped in their first week and learned their way around the hard way. I spent many days talking with them and learning about their observations of the culture and the children. They were wonderful help and great friends. They both have HUGE hearts and are committed to serving God. They were always willing to step up and help in any way they could. We spent many fun hours together just hanging out, shopping or going to see movies. I am SO glad they were here. God put them here for many reasons, but I KNOW he put them here to help smooth the transition for me. (Hopefully Russell will be returning to Jo'burg soon. After he raises enough support, he will be coming back to be a volunteer coordinator for the day care and the Door of Hope. We all look forward to his return.)

Later in the week, the day care got a visit from a missions group from Los Angeles. The group had 4 adults and 6 teenagers. They did a few puppet skits and a clown skit for the children. They also painted faces and danced and sang with the kids. The team from LA was very nice and friendly. They jumped right in and talked to the kids. It was a great morning.

I also had a meeting with the teachers at the day care. The meeting was supposed to be Tuesday. We tried to find time for this meeting ALL week. But there were sick teachers, the team from LA, sick kids and many other things that got in the way. So the meeting was Friday morning. Delaying the meeting just gave me more time to pray alot about what to say. I was supposed to give the teachers feedback and suggestions and present lessons for August for them to use. I was so glad to have lots of positive things to say to the teachers. They really have made a great start and work well together. The children obey the teachers (and dont listen to me at all!). So I think that we got the meeting off on the right foot. I gave a few suggestions. The head teacher, Nomalonga, seemed to agree with me on many of them. It was encouraging to have her support. Then I presented the lessons I have been developing. These are just a starting point so we can see what works and what doesnt. But I feel good about the things discussed with the teachers. They seem willing to try new things and I think they will pick up a lot of skills naturally just by being exposed to new ideas.

The teachers seem very tired. They are at the Day Care from 7:30 until 5:00ish. They have kids and husbands and dinner and other things to keep them busy after their work day is over. Many of them wash their clothes by hand because they dont have a washer. When they are sick they come to work anyway, because they need the money. Most of their money is used to send their older children to school. They have stress that I cant imagine. They live in a run-down, dangerous neighborhoods and struggle to make ends meet. Yet they reach out to help the people around them. They participate in church bible studies and teach Sunday School. They give away anything extra they have to others who are in need. So these ladies need lots of prayer!! I have decided that I need to pamper them a bit and bring in lots of goodies to help them feel special (which also gives me a good excuse to make cookies this weekend!) The staff names are Nomalonga, Aurelia, Malt, Joyce, Faith, John, Ivan, Mummsie, and Lyndiweh. Please pray for them and their families.

Thank you for your prayers! I know they are working. I can see it in the relationships Im forming with the students and teachers. I can feel it in the way I am settling in and feeling more comfortable. And I know someone out there is praying hard about my driving, because I am driving on the LEFT hand side of the road and it doesnt even seem strange to me anymore. AND I have Thursday and Friday off this coming week! Finally, some time to do laundry! Yippeee! Praise God. He answers big AND small prayers!