Some thoughts from Durban, South Africa

There are so many things I'd like to capture in words, and only a few minutes to write, so these random and most likely coherent thoughts are all I've got. I hope you enjoy them. :)

- I have so many mixed feelings throughout the day. I'm surrounded by the most beautiful city, but face the reality of poverty and crime no matter where I go. I miss my family and friends and my bed so very much, and yet I know that when I leave (in less than two weeks!!) I'm going to be so torn apart.

- Sometimes I just want to go crazy. :) For example: I'm sleeping on a couch in the living room for safety reasons, and my nights often go as follows: Teenagers watching TV til 10, six month old baby cries from 12-3 a.m., Jake and Mary wake up around 5 a.m. and come jump on me and I'm up and at it by 7 a.m It is a these moments that I want to die. :)

- Then the sweetest things happen and I wonder how I'm ever going to leave. Jake wanders half asleep down the hall at 4 a.m. and crawls into bed with me in the morning. He's so precious!! I keep trying to get a photo that captures this little boys smile. I think I've finally got one that at least does it half justice.

- I think I must be getting a tan. Little Siya told me yesterday, "Look! You’re getting brown like me." haha. I love it.

- Mary is so bright! I can't believe she's less than 3 years old! She is certainly coming home in my suitcase, although Katie Depooter informed me that customs checks especially for people smuggling cute little children out of the country. DARN.

- This thought occurred to me. I think each one of us needs to live with the poor, to see them on our street corners, in our neighborhoods. We need to look them in the eyes everyday. We need them to remind us that we have failed. We have failed to love how Christ has called us to.

- This household is so crazy to live in. Ruth and her two teenage children (and let me just say...thirteen year old girls seem to be universally similiar :) Maureen and her six month old baby. Maureen is thirty, and Ruth's neice who has lived on the street most of her life, and has seen it all I think. She has a six month old baby and has been living here ever since her boyfriend started beating her enough to put her life in danger. And then Siya, Jake, Mary and Simon, all young children who would all most likely not be alive today if it weren't for Ruth. Each one has their own special needs issues, and each one of them is so precious!! Let me tell you, its chaos here, but I know when I'm back in Sarnia, sleeping in peace and quiet, I'm not going to know what to do with myself.

- I need to send the biggest of THANKYOUs to Sarah Hayes. My sweetest little housemate who wrote me notes and cards for almost all of my days spent so far away from my friends and family.

- Oh yes! I've been 5 feet away from a giraffe. Amazing. And Stuart (a guy who helps Ruth out from time to time) took Anne and I diving before she left. I say a flipping octopus and eel and dolphins. I am the bravest ever just so you all know. ;) My first day here I witnessed a shark disection. Durban is famous for shark attacks, as well as their revolutionary shark protection program. (Some of you know the significance this holds for me...as sharks are one of my most ridiculous and greatest fears. I can't even swim in Lake Huron without
fearing for my life...so see! your prayers work.)

I think this is all I have time to say right now. "Shame" (as they say here in South Africa.) I have so much more to say, but I'll have to bottle it up for now. I'll be writing for months I feel. :) Thanks all for your continued prayers. They travel far.