My last week in Africa

Well, my time in Africa is coming to a close this week. I can't believe how fast the summer (well winter here!) has gone. I've been praying that God would give me a way to say goodbye to my kids and to the friends I have made here....so far I don't have any idea how I'm going to leave. In some ways, I'm ready to come home and be with family and friends. But I'll be leaving such a huge part of my heart here in South Africa. Update on what's been going on. The team from my church arrived last Sunday and God has been very good in meshing our personalities really well. They have been a blessing, especially to have connection with home.

The first day that they were here, the primary school did a program for us that included lots of music and dancing done by my Grade 7 students. School was finished at 11:30 a.m. that day and the kids were thrilled. They treated us to dramas, music, dancing, a net ball game, and a soccer game. They wanted to say goodbye to me and thank you and it was one of the most beautiful days of my life. I came to South Africa to love 30 kids and got to meet and love a 1,000 more.

The team has spent time teaching at the school as well and the kids love it! We have been painting playground equipment, attending teenager bible studies, and anything else that the kids are involved in.

To be honest, I've been a bit of a basket case here. So many emotions, and God has just been working me for the last few weeks and I've cried more than I've ever cried before; laughed more than I've ever laughed; and have been sick for most of it! Please pray for healing of my body...I've been fighting bronchitis for 3 weeks, and now it has moved into my ears...not good with the many hours I will spend flying this weekend. You can also pray for healing of my heart. It has taken a battering here in many ways and I'm having to surrender everything to Jesus every blessed day. I listened to a sermon by my Pastor a few days ago about faith and if you aren't hurting and growing and suffering, how can your faith grow. This morning I told God that I needed a bit of a break from all the growing and hurting! I hope He's listening!

I start the long trek back to the states Friday night. Would appreciate prayers for safe travels and looking forward to seeing all of you when I return to Seattle. I'll be spending a few days in Los Angeles and then heading up to the cold, yucky weather. Sorry you all have had such a wet summer! But I had to have 2 winters this year!

Love to you all. Enjoy the newest batch of pictures! Dianne

Such a week!

Well, it's been an interesting week. I'm fighting my second bout of bronchitis. I haven't been this sick in a while. We laugh at school in the mornings when all the kids start doing their "cough chorus"! I am not a mama anymore, my kids now have a new caretaker, a beautiful lady that I think will be very good for them. But I miss them.

The team from my church arrives here this weekend and that means I just have over 2 weeks left here. Some days I'm ready to come home, other days I can't wrap my brain around having to leave.

Tried to post some pictures, but dial up isn't all that friendly. Will try later this week. I finish my teaching at the primary school on Friday. I've enjoyed being with those kids and have loved the kindness of the teachers and staff who welcomed me with open arms.

Miss all of you and thanks for the emails. They keep me sane! Much love, Dianne

well, the pics will have to wait til I go to town tomorrow and have something better than dial up!

My "typical" day in Loskop

Well, for all who know I am NOT a morning person, I start my day at 5:30 a.m and get my 5 kids up and ready for school. About a week ago, we got back 3 kids that had been gone for a while and they needed a caretaker until a permanent one can be found, so I am "Auntie Dianne" which I love. They range in age from 4 - 10 and they are a handful. Will attach pics so you can see. I have 4 girls and 1 boy; the boy Kule, is HIV + and on ARV drugs which we do 2x a day. We have 3 HIV+ kids and 1 adult here right now.

I walk to school with them in the morning and I'm teaching English to Grades 6 & 7. Grade 6 has 180 kids and grade 7 has 120. I alternate the days that I teach each class...I didn't realize how much I missed kids until the first day of teaching and saw all of their beautiful faces.

In the afternoons I am playing nurse. We have our share of colds, which I'm just getting over. I've done home visits to sick people in the community, sat with one pregnant gal at the clinic to make sure her baby was okay. She's 6 months pregnant and came to me because she hadn't felt the baby move in 2 days. I told her that I hadn't had this quarter of nursing yet, and she laughed. We sat at the clinic just around the corner for 3 hours before we were called to go in. Have made friends with the administrator and will be doing home health visits with her in the next few weeks.

Had a team of 6 people here from South Florida for 2 weeks and that was a blessing. They were able to entertain the kids and give the rest of us a break. My team from Mars Hill comes in just a few days and then I am going to have to get ready to come back to the US.

Not sure how I feel about that yet, have found a place here with these kids that is precious and wonderful and I can't imagine leaving them.

My day finally wraps up when I've got the kids in bed, asleep (blessedly) (and my heart felt appreciation to mom's everywhere who do this every day!)

Much love to all of you. Was homesick yesterday, but reading email was therapeutic. Bye for now. Enjoy the pics.