Picture Perfect...

There are a few more fun things and exciting events to share. Sunday, after an early church and another watch of High School Musical 3, we took about 20 kids on a hike. The hike was over 2 hours and we went through town, up a road and climbed a hill. The kids did really well! While some were scared of snakes popping out at them, and others were on crutches, they did an awesome job and we all got to enjoy the view from the top. This is a picture of Zimkhita and Nosipiwe at the top, aren't they cute?
This is Zimkhita and Tabisa and I at the park. It was sunny and a beautiful day!
Yesterday we went to the park with almost all of the kids. I must say it was the most successful park visit that I have been on since I have been here: minimal crying, kids got along, didn't wonder off into the fields. The girls absolutely love taking pictures of themselves. They grab my camera and then run off and take six different pictures of the same exact thing: one person just standing there. Not smiling and not close up, but just standing. So today I wanted to teach them a bit about how fun it is to take pictures as a group and all the different poses you could do. Well for twelve, thriteen and fourteen year olds, they got into this. And it was so much fun! We took pictures on stairs, bleachers, old signs, broken down walls, under trees, laying on the ground, etc. but it was so fun! When I got back from the park I went and photoshopped them a bit and I'm going to go to try and print some off for them today or tomorrow.
Two nights ago we had a talent show and I think I mentioned that in the last post? Either way, here are a few of the girls who were singing for the competition. I have some videos too. The talent is amazing!


Yikes, I leave tomorrow night. Running out of time! Mixed feelings, but as always extremely excited to go home! Can't believe it.. as the time gets closer, it seems as if the time slows down and speeds up all at once. See you before you know it!


With love.

This is here, this is now...

Oiy!
Here we are, the last week of being in South Africa. Where to begin? So many things to say and I don't know where to start. Should I tell about my journey, how since my last blog I went back to PE, took a test and finished a project, then 48 hours was back at the Children's home? In reality it wasn't that long that I was gone, but still things had changed. The new fence that the two guys are working on made some good progress, several of the kids had different hair styles and even the foundation was at a different stage. It's a stressful situation here with uncertainty ringing in the air all over and the reality is unavoidable. There are fewer and fewer funds each day and the fear approaching all that there won't be enough to make it through. Yet there is faith that they will be provided for. We have been asked by Dianne and Carol to do fundraising of our own but I am torn about it. Not many people know that I am here and it is hard to explain this situation in an email, to do it justice. I am praying and trusting in the Lord that he provides for these children but also for ideas of ways in which I can help. I know there is always something I have, and that is my pictures, so we will see where we can go with that.

Yesterday we did a Treasure Hunt/Scavenger Hunt where we raced around town with different clues (rhyming clues, mom you'd be proud of me ;]) and took different pictures at each. This is a picture of the kids jumping off the tourist information being monsters. Ha, we split into two teams and unfortunately my team lost, but we all enjoyed pop and some chips as a prize! I was happy the kids got into it.
These are some of the boys. They are stinkin adorable. There are about 9 little guys and 2 younger girls and I love playing with them. They are always getting into mischief (my favorite was the chalk fight on the football (soccer) field that resulted with white chalk covering everyone and everything! Including me! They also like to play superman where the practice jumping off tables and chairs and the porch and I catch them. Sometimes they go one at a time, but it's usually two or three, occassionally four. I'm going to try and hold up five before I leave ;).
One night we had a Braai and made a fire in the braai pit, roasted hot dogs, potatoes and even had salad. It was quite the feast! Afterwards, Marlin (one of the volunteers) had a recipe for baking bread over the fire. We had found bamboo like poles earlier in the day and took some of the bread and wrapped it around the sticks. After 5 or so minutes of holding it over the fire, we had instant bread! It was yummy and provided several hours of entertainment. I'm hoping to use that bread recipe in the future! Since the official Dianne Lang Foundation is closing, last Monday we went to the community center where we took a lot of the clothes the kids didn't need (roughly 12-16 boxes) and we sold the clothes. We wanted to be fair and make good deals, and also wanted to raise money for the organization, but the clothes went for roughly 10-50 cents, some for a dollar (new winter jackets and even blankets we sold for barely over a dollar) but it was quite the experience to be on the other side of the market, selling the items. In this picture you can see some of the ladies who came that were looking through the clothes. They loved trying to make a good deal! This is a shot of some of the little guys in the back of the house in the yard. There isn't necessarily a play ground, but there are these monkey bar type things to climb on as well as an interesting tire swing.

Last night we had a talent show. These kids are great once they get going. Between singing and dancing they were all over the place. The older girls; Kholiwe, Aya and Nomhle wouldn't stop dancing. Then the middle aged girls, Beverly, Joyce, Tabisa and Ntomoboxolo sang these pretty songs. Even Michael and American busted some moves that I hadn't seen them do before! I'm sad that for some reason not all the photos I wanted got transfered to my usb, but hopefully this gives you a tiny picture and glimpse. Hope things are going well for all! Looking forward to seeing you, and sharing more about the past 5 months.

With love always <3.

Embrace the joy of the moment

"The miracle is this:: the more we share, the more we have" --Leonard Nimoy

Sure, time flies, but to watch the landscapes, the atmosphere, the people and the places change so rapidly and so fast... well, it's kind of exhilarating, but also a lot to take in. From a month ago, at the beginning of May to here, the beginning of June, to next month being home in the States at the beginning of July... As always trying to make the most of every moment, staying motivated and energized is essential. I am currently at the Dianne Lang Foundation, volunteering with around 30 children and becoming more aware of the day to day events of this aspect of South Africa. The thing is, the home is in a time of transition and uncertainty. The foundation is not a NPO, it has been ran off of private donations and funds from other people, but now it looks as if the funding is no longer there which leaves a lot of questions and changes in the very near future. There is a wonderful lady who has put in an application to become a Non-profit Organization and is still waiting to be approved by the government, but the outlook seems hopeful. Until then I get to play with kids all day, help paint buildings, maybe assist in building a fence (I guess it's a guy's project? Oh well, we put up 3 last summer =]), and knit scarves for all of the girls here. Can you believe that it gets below freezing in Middelburg? As I sit and type in the office, it's actually a tease that I can see the sun shining out the doors next to me as my hands are icy and my feet cold! But there is no heat here and the kids are always wearing their jackets and wrapped in blankets in the home. They always want to borrow my scarves and sweaters so that's when I decided they needed scarves of their own! And I was pointed in the right direction of a yarn/wool/fabric shop where I got new knitting needles and some wool!

Still, I cannot believe that I am here finally- getting onto the bus I nearly had to pinch myself, and the ride went by fast. It was a double decker bus and I sat on the top and got to reflect a bit about this adventure the past 5 months have had to offer. My first impression of this town and of this experience was that it brought me back to last summer and reminded me of Cass Lake, for a few reasons. Maybe it's because they are the only two small towns I have ever been in for an extended amount of time, but I sort of like the walk everywhere, empty streets, deserted town kind of feel. Or the fact that there is one other girl and two boys, kind of similar to a YW staff? And we play cards at night and share just a tiny space and yada yada, it's fun.

Well internet is expensive and I shouldn't be on for two long... so I will give you some highlights of the past 5 days...
I read bed time stories to kids every night. It was the first time I have done that in a long time, and I love it. And I love that they are interested in reading and I want to do all I can to see that they read more!
The first night I was here we took a walk around the neighborhood at night with the older kids. I got to dance and sing in the street with some of the girls and it was a great way to welcome in the first day of being here.
Some of the girls are singing all the time and one afternoon I was sitting in the girl's bedroom and they asked me to sing (which you are all aware that I am no good), but I did anyway, only after having them sing first. Now it's almost daily. I think I am going to start a 'silly songs with Stephanie' series after the "Go Bananas" song went over like a hit last night =).
These kids are truly kind of like a family, looking out for one another, taking care of eachother, picking on each other, sharing with one another. The older girls looking out for the little boys... the number of smiles here are unbelievable.
One afternoon I got to cuddle with some kids and watch Toy Story 2 (one of my FAVORITES) and then that night I even went to a dance at a church in a township with middleaged people and danced the night away! Entertaining way to spend a Friday.
In the kitchen the older boys like to listen to music, and one night I heard the Titanic song come on, you know the one, so I went in and taught one of the boys,Luke, how to dance. Then I taught him the Fox Trot and Waltz (Dawn, you would be proud!). I think I am going to download music for the Cha Cha Slide and Electric Slide, and maybe a square dance if possible! One of the volunteers said that he could get music off my iPod onto the computer, so then we can get some good ol honkeytonk country music and I can teach them a line dance! If I remember, I hope I remember.
I don't know what it is about being here, or the similarities to a mission trip but it just feels like there are a collection of things in my life that have lead up to and prepared me for this time and this moment and it just brings me such joy. I love spending the mornings in the office and thinking of ideas, it's just that the future of the organization, and more importantly the kids, is still so uncertain. But man, these kids are great.