happenings.

Lumela Friends!! (See that....working on my Sesotho :) This week has been so eventful, I just wanted to tell you all about it while it is still fresh in my brain.

Well, first we have had 3 new kids come this week. We had 2 come yesterday and 1 came today. Its kind of funny because the way you know the kid is new is if they have long hair. One of the new ones is a little precious baby that is a only a couple weeks old. I am not sure what his story is but he is pretty darn cute. The older boy that came yesterday has settled in pretty well. He gets along with the other kids and seems pretty content. I think this was the child that his aunt dropped him off because the mom had somehow disappeared if I remember correctly. The child that arrived today has been crying all day. He has hardly been eating and I just feel so bad for him. He is not in my house so I don't see him much. This one also had his mom just disappear but I don't really remember the whole story. It is an odd feeling to get new kids. It is sad that their own family couldn't care for them, but it also makes me happy that they ended up here instead somewhere else.

Yesterday we also had a little goodbye service for Andrew and Cassi and a couple other staff that were leaving. Andrew and Cassi are other volunteers that I have gotten to know pretty well over the past couple weeks. It was quite an emotional service and I am going to miss having them around! It was a meeting both of them and we had lots of fun comparing foods and cultures. Andrew left today and Cassi will be leaving Monday. Keep them in your prayers as they travel!

We also celebrated some birthdays yesterday. There was 3 kids from each house that had a birthday in June or July so we celebrated them all at once with some delicious cake that Anita made. I cringe a little bit every snack time because there is always kids eating cake crumbs off the person next to them and kids eating their cake off the ground after they have dropped it...yea. But, they all enjoyed it!

The basketball team is on their way! I am really overly excited to have them here. Sadly, they had some flight troubles so they will be getting here a little later than planned, but they will get here!

Lately, the days have been getting better and better. They are less emotional, less homesick, and more comfortable. I thought this was all good since it is what I have been praying for, but today I noticed I have also been getting into the word less and less. I really had to stop and evaluate what happened. Do I really just go to the word as a last resort when I am feeling down? That is not how I want it to be. So I am going to be really working on that this coming week.

This is one passage that has been especially close to me lately:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present you request to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:4-7

This is one of those that I have always been familiar with, but it wasn't until I got here that it really came alive for me. Some days it is hard to rejoice...when a child is sick, when I am physically worn out, or when I am missing home. Other times it is easy to rejoice...when a child learns to walk, when I see the children singing and praying to God, or seeing how much the staff loves the kids. Rejoice!

"THE LORD IS NEAR." I think that is my favorite part because I smile every time I read it. I smile because I have seen Him and heard Him and felt Him near through the whole process of coming here and now being here. The Lord is near folks, yes he is.

"Do not be anxious about anything."
I was anxious about flying into a different country.....I got here with very little problems and was warmly welcomed.
I was anxious about what kind of food I would be eating.....THEY HAVE THE BEST COOKIES IN THE WORLD HERE. (and good chocolate)
I was anxious about being accepted among the staff here.....Every morning my house mothers greet me and joke around with me as we work.
I was anxious about meeting the other volunteers.....Andrew and Cassi are AWESOME and we have had SOOO much fun together!
I was anxious about keeping in touch with people from home.....YAY FOR WIFI AT BGATE :)

I could go on if I wanted....but as you can see the Lord has given me countless reasons why it is not worth being anxious when he has obviously got his hand over me and the work I am doing.

yup those are just a few thoughts from the week.

peace and love