It's been a long time since I have last updated you, three months in fact. I'm sorry it's been so long. I have many excuses that I won't bore you with. Instead I'll just give you the Cliff notes on the last three months of my life. 

 

In July, I had the pleasure of serving in Bulembu with the students from CHS (Christian Heritage School) and was surprised to have at least 6 people that I knew involved with the team. What a blessing it was to see folks from home and hear news from home. To hear our unique accent and have people know what I was talking about when I mentioned the parkway, Penny's Diner or the circle in Fairfield.  I spent a week in Bulembu serving alongside this team, helping with preschool children at the "Valley of Hope" school. I was able to reconnect with some of the children I first met in the summer of 2007 and see how they've grown.

 

At the End of July, I was able to take some time away and visit my friend Marieka in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I spent 9 days taking in the sights and sounds and having the pleasure of being near the ocean again (not that CT has real ocean) I saw killer whales swimming in their natural habitat and for those who know me well, you know I love animals and so to see one for the first time in the ocean, that's pretty exciting. I also was able to see some dolphins swimming one day. I tasted new foods and even learned a word or two in Africaans. 

 

Upon returning to Swaziland I was given news that I must be moved out of my house, so that began the craziness of finding a place to live in a safe neighborhood, and having that house be within my budget. It took another couple here 10 months to find a place to stay and so I was feeling very discouraged and figured I would have to move somewhere unsafe just to be out of my place on time. God had much better plans and in hearing my situation, a woman approached me and gave me the number of another woman, she said there are no guarantees, but call her and see if she has anything available. To my surprise and delight, she did know of a house in a safe neighborhood with an affordable rent. My house was so safe in fact, that I was able to bless another missionary with my guard dog (his has just died)

 

In the school, I have been enjoying teaching my grade 2's more stories about Jesus, we went over the Christmas story this week, so they'll be ready for exams in a few weeks. (Yes, grade 2 takes exams). My 7th graders have been working on memory verses, something I wasn't going to push on them because it's a classroom and my lessons were biblical based but not "religious." Anyways after quoting a Scripture one week, some of the girls asked if they could begin to memorize verses and of course I said yes. I am so excited to see them wanting to know the Word of God. 

 

At the carepoint, my girls are also working on Scripture memorization, this has been much more challenging there. the first 2 months nobody memorized the verse, even with prizes for those who did. Finally a few weeks ago there was a breakthrough and 6 girls came with the verse memorized. They received their prize (chocolate) and in the last weeks more girls are trying. My next challenge for them is to learn to apply these words to their lives. It seems to be a tough concept for them to get.

 

Please pray for all the children I work with, that God will be real to them and they will want to know Him more.

 

Pray for safety for me as I travel farther now to my ministry points each day. Also I am traveling this weekend to pick up a fellow missionary at the airport (5 hour drive into South Africa)

 

Pray that my faith will increase and that I will continue on even when I don't see the fruit. that I will perservere despite the challenges. 

 

Thank you all, as always, for your prayers and support!