Orphan Day and Staff Retreat!

It is hard for me to believe that a month has already passed since I first arrived in South Africa. I have had the opportunity to experience many wonderful things since arriving, but this past Monday topped them all. We spent a whole day with the orphans in Philippi. The kids had a week off of school so we planned a day filled with games, crafts, Bible lessons, snacks, singing, and a balloon toss. The picture that you see is Nontombi (6 years old) and I sitting in the schoolyard watching a group of orphans play football (soccer). It has been a joy watching Nontombi and the other kids grow and build relationships with each other. It is my prayer that they would be "family" for each other and build a strong network of love and support.
One moment that was particularly memorable from my day with the kids was standing in a circle singing a song called "Bambelela". This Xhosa word, Bambelela, means "never give up". The kids sang so loudly and as they sang I glanced around the circle at their faces, faces that are becoming more and more familiar to me. Each child has a story-- and all are stories of pain and obstacles to overcome. It was so powerful to hear them sing this song about perseverence and strength. I know that each of them could (and hopefully will) teach me a lot about reliance on God and trusting Him in the face of hardships.
On Tuesday we left for a staff retreat at Cape Agulhas, which is at the very Southern tip of Africa where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. It was windy and a bit cold, but we were excited to see whales just off the coast and enjoy the beauty of the ocean. We bonded through sharing our testimonies and casting a vision for Bridges of Hope in the upcoming year.
Overall, it has been a great week of experiencing God through relationships-- with the orphans and with the staff whom I will be working with for the next year.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support!