Update #2

Hello all.

I'm neglecting all e-mails to try and post a little update for you all. :)

Thanks so much for you prayers, I know they must be working.

Life is busy here, but I'm adjusting and coping and ussually having a great time. There is always something happening in a small home of four preschoolers, two mothers, a young baby, two teenagers, myself and a dog. I've gone from a university student going to bed at 2 a.m if not later, to a mother of preschoolers who wants to sleep by seven o'clock, if not earlier. What an experience.

I work with Mary and Jake (three years old) most mornings, while Siya and Simon (four years old) are at school. The past couple days all four of been home all day, since they've been on holidays...what a test of my patience.) However, I wouldn't trade this experinece for the world. I also have a whole new respect for mothers. My gosh.

I find it hard being here on my own, without friends, family or other support connections. Whenever I'm frustrated or tired I just think, I didn't come here for a vacation, I came here to serve. And I'm trusting that God will meet me there. I've also developed some good coping methods:

-listening to music as I fall asleep and wake up
-praying very hard
-reminding myself i'm IN AFRICA :):)
-reading quotes by Mother Theresa when I feel less then benevolent. :) (Thanks Pastor Aaron.)

I went to Ruth's church on Sunday. The pastor said in his sermon, "shit..just go. Make an excuse to go, rather than an excuse not to go." It was good to get a reminder about why the heck i'm half way around the world all alone taking care of screaming babies. Even among strangers something about a good church, it always feels like home. It seems that these people, although afluent and white really have a heart for the poor around them, and that was nice to see. The atrium of the church looks out on a beautiful view of the Indian Ocean. That is the one thing about Durban, it is breathtakingly beautiful.

The children have really captured my heart, even on their bad days. I think Jake and Siya who both have HIV also have fetal alcohol syndrome, at least it seems very likely. But they are both sweet and I enjoy the challenge of trying to work with them.

My most urgent pray request would be for Ruth as she tries to finalize the plans to build her facilities that would allow her dream for this ministry to begin to come true. She also REALLY needs a volunteer to show up after I leave, because there will be no one for the kids after I go. She said they will be so lost. Also pray that I would have peace of mind as I sleep at night, I'm alone in an apartment serparate from the house and its a little nerve racking.

Alright. I'm signing off. I hope I have the opportunity to write more soon. I rarely have the opportunity, and when I do I just don't know what to say, I have so much I could. I'm sure I'll write lots once I'm back in Canada, and missing my babies. :) Hope to write more soon.